LaLiga EA Sports returns with a match loaded with tension from the very first second: Girona, trapped in the relegation zone, host a Real Madrid side under pressure to stop the bleeding after watching their lead at the top shrink dramatically. The showdown this Sunday at 21:00 CET (-1 GMT) arrives at a defining moment for both teams… and with potential ripple effects all the way to the United States, where interest in Los Blancos continues to grow.

How Does Real Madrid Arrive to a Match Where Another Slip Is Not an Option?

The 3-4 win in Greece against Olympiacos eased the heat around Xabi Alonso, but it didn’t hide the concerns that have surrounded the league leaders for weeks. Madrid’s defensive issues remain alarming: five goals conceded in their last two games, and 17 overall in 18 matches, a high number for a club aiming to dominate both domestically and in Europe.

The dependency on Kylian Mbappé is also undeniable.
The French superstar has scored 55% of the team’s goals this season, including a spectacular four-goal haul in Athens that saved Madrid from disaster.

There is, however, good news: the defense is finally returning to normal.
Thibaut Courtois is back after a viral illness, while Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão are fully available again. Alonso can finally abandon the improvised backline he used in the Champions League, though Marco Asensio remains doubtful due to gastroenteritis.

In midfield, the traditional structure will return:
Aurélien Tchouaméni as the anchor, Federico Valverde providing the engine, and Jude Bellingham leading the creative charge. Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga are competing for the final spot.
Up front, the connection between Mbappé and Vinícius Junior reconnects in Montilivi, fresh off a performance in Greece where they combined for six direct goal contributions.

Can Girona Turn Their Recent Progress Into an Upset Against the League Leaders?

Despite sitting 18th, Girona have quietly begun to rise.
If only the last eight matchdays counted, Míchel Sánchez’s team would be ninth, with two wins, four draws, and two narrow losses against FC Barcelona and Getafe. The issue remains the disastrous start: just one point from their first fifteen, which has kept them stuck in the relegation zone for twelve straight rounds.

They arrive after a 1-0 win over Alavés and a 1-1 draw against Betis, where Vladyslav Vanat scored and Yáser Asprilla missed a golden chance in the final minutes.

The problem? The injury list is brutal.
Girona will be without Cristhian Stuani, Daley Blind, Vladyslav Krapyvtsov, Thomas Lemar, David López, Juan Carlos Martín, Portu, and Donny van de Beek.
The good news is the return of Alejandro Francés, who may slide into the starting XI immediately.

Montilivi has delivered unforgettable nights against Real Madrid:
2-1 in 2017, 1-2 in 2019, and the iconic 4-2 in 2023 with Taty Castellanos’ legendary four-goal performance.
But the last four meetings have been all Madrid: 0-3, 4-0, 0-3, 2-0.