Real Madrid needs to get back to winning ways when they host Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Friday night, April 10, in Round 31 of La Liga 2025/26. Álvaro Arbeloa’s team has lost two games in a row: first, 2-1 to Mallorca in La Liga, and then 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League. They need to win now more than ever. Barcelona is seven points ahead at the top, so three points against Girona are not optional; they are necessary. Real Madrid desperately need to rediscover winning ways when they host Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Friday night, April 10, in Round 31 of La Liga 2025/26. Álvaro Arbeloa’s side has suffered back-to-back defeats—a 2-1 La Liga loss to Mallorca followed by a 2-1 Champions League first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich—and the urgency could not be greater. With Barcelona seven points clear at the summit, three points against Girona are not optional — they are existential.
Recent Form
In the last three weeks, Real Madrid has played some of the worst soccer of the season. Five games without a win have hurt their title challenge a lot, and the confidence that drove their early-season performances has clearly faded for a team dealing with injuries, Champions League pressure, and a schedule that keeps changing, with no time to breathe. In contrast, Girona comes in with better spirits. Míchel’s team won their last game against Villarreal 1-0, which moved them eight points clear of the relegation zone and gave them a strong defence going into Friday.
Record of Head-to-Head Matches
Real Madrid has a strong history in this match. Madrid has won eight of the 13 meetings, Girona has won three, and there have been two draws. The 35-17 score shows how much better Madrid was than Girona at their best. It’s important to note that Girona has not scored in their last two trips to the Bernabéu, losing 4-0 and 2-0, and they have only kept a clean sheet in one of their last five La Liga away games. The last time the clubs met, in November 2025 at Girona’s ground, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. This showed that Míchel’s team can get something out of games against Madrid when the time is right.
Expected Lineups
Real Madrid’s lineup was Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Manuel Ángel, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Güler; Brahim Díaz, and Mbappé.
Gazzaniga, Arnau Martínez, Vitor Reis, Francés, Álex Moreno, Tsygankov, Iván Martín, Witsel, Beltrán, Ounahi, and Abel Ruiz are all on Girona’s 4-5-1 team.
Vinícius Júnior’s availability at left wing is unclear because of rotation management ahead of the second leg against Bayern. This is why some predicted XIs put Brahim Díaz in a wide advanced role. Rodrygo and Courtois are still confirmed as missing.
Important Battles to Watch
The battle in the middle of the field between Aurelien Tchouaméni and Axel Witsel is what keeps this game going. Girona’s plan to stay compact and deny Mbappé space will depend on Witsel’s experience and positioning. Madrid’s ability to build through the lines with confidence, rather than relying on direct balls forward, will depend on Tchouaméni’s ability to control the tempo and protect the defence. Alexander-Arnold’s overlapping runs against Viktor Tsygankov on the flanks will be another important subplot. The Ukrainian winger is Girona’s best creator, and if they want to stop Madrid from being a threat down that side, they need disciplined defence.
Prediction of the score
The Bernabéu has had a good season so far, winning 13 of 15 home games and losing only 2. The head-to-head record and Girona’s road woes strongly suggest Madrid will win. Mbappé’s desire to return to his best after a poor performance against Bayern is another reason for the team’s urgency, and the fact that everyone needs to boost their confidence before the trip to Munich makes a lacklustre display almost impossible.
Real Madrid is expected to win by a score of 2-0.
