Girona goes to Madrid already a loser. At least there is the strong feeling that almost no one believes in it. They stumbled against Sociedad, with the same number of games they are behind Real Madrid, there are doubts about Dovbik’s health, in addition Herrera, Blind and coach Michel were suspended. The situation is so-so, especially considering the current fabulous season.
But. The advantages are derived from the disadvantages; one is a continuation of the other. So maybe it’s good for Girona that they don’t believe in it. Not having extra pressure is an advantage. The Catalans are probably tired of living with the feeling that they are constantly expected to surprise. They had never experienced this before this season. So now it should be helpful for Girona that many have already practically recorded a defeat for them.
The lack of great expectations gives the Catalans free rein. They can play against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu however they want. They do not need to take discipline to the maximum, they do not need to play for results and go against their “Gironesa” nature. They have every moral right to play as they are used to. Won’t it work? Oh well, they were outsiders anyway, there’s no feeling here. But if it works…
Girona-Real Madrid
Photo: Alex Caparrós/Getty Images
Girona, even at full strength and with Michel on the bench, would be the loser against Real Madrid. Even against the current Real Madrid, with a weak central defense, apparently not 100 percent ready for Vinicius and the next Champions League. Real Madrid continues to be better. Real Madrid has much more experience. Especially when it comes to key matches.
The first round match between Girona and Real was also, in a certain sense, key. It was the eighth matchday, at that time Girona had already enchanted everyone, having achieved six consecutive victories. And here is Madrid. In the Girona field. Before this match, a lot was expected of the Blaugranas. They have a frenetic pace, and Real just received it from Atlético, and they did well.
Girona started bravely and could have scored. But Real, like no one else in the world, knows how to wait for the storm to pass and recover what is theirs. And so it happened: in the 21st minute Madrid led 2-0 and, in fact, the game was over. Girona himself seemed surprised that this was possible, that this could happen. We play as always, we run forward, but for some reason we lose.
After that match, Girona did not become more flexible. And this is its advantage! The team also runs forward. With any opponent. Girona crushed Celta at home. “Girona” beat “Osasuna”. Girona could not break through Valencia, but then the veteran Stuani jumped in and in six minutes the game turned upside down. Sevilla had the audacity to score first in the match against Girona, and ended up scoring five in their own goal!
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The most surprising thing is that Girona did the same tricks with the tops. The matches with Barça and Atlético de Madrid are pure fireworks and burlesque. In these games, Girona alternated periods of genius with failures. But the fact is that she was ready to move on at any time. Girona had no intention of locking themselves behind for even a single second.
Michel’s team is like a jackhammer. No matter what happens, she hammers and hammers, hammers and hammers. Dovbik and Dovbik! Some will say there is no plan B. That’s how plan A works! And the best thing Girona can do now against Real Madrid is to follow plan A.
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Girona will not be able to close, they simply do not know how to do it. Furthermore, in defense they don’t have much fewer problems than Real Madrid. Ciego is suspended, David López has health problems. Furthermore, from the point of view of defensive functions, the loss of Lopez is more serious than the loss of Blind. The Dutchman is very important in the preparation, but he has never been an impenetrable defender. But López is a lateral defender. He’s not a genius on the ball like Blind or Eric Garcia, but he’s a better defender than both of them.
Daley Blind and David Lopez
Photo: Eric Verhoeven/Getty Images
However, let’s go back to plan A: attack. Everything is not going well here either. Minus Herrera and possibly Dovbik, this is very serious. But Herrera, at least in actions with the ball, can be replaced by the Barça graduate, Pablo Torre. There will surely be a loss of quality, but not fatal.
Replacing Dovbik is more difficult, but perhaps Stuani will appear from the first minutes. Against Sociedad, Porto’s nominal winger entered the center of the attack, and it went wrong. Stuani is not as agile as Dovbik, but in terms of type he is definitely closer to Artyom than Port.
One of those that Girona will have to contain:
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In addition, Real will have Carvajal or Tchuameni in the center of defense. The defensive center back is not his profile. And Carvajal is also small. So the experienced and big Stuani will be able to take advantage of this. It will be more difficult to stop Rüdiger, but he still has health problems. So you can “feel” the German in this match.
It is often said of Real Madrid that this team is a master at dragging its opponents into chaos and in those moments winning the match. So now Girona needs to drag Real into chaos. It is necessary to provoke Madrid into an open battle. This is Girona’s only chance to achieve a result at the Bernabéu. The Catalans will fail anyway. The question is how many will score.
Do not miss! Watch the match of matchday 24 of the Spanish Championship “Real Madrid” – “Girona” live on Okko. The game starts on February 10 at 20:30 Moscow time.
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