Matchday 8 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season features the highly anticipated fixture between Girona FC and Real Madrid, the current top two in the standings and two of the most entertaining teams in Spain in this early stretch of the 2023/24 campaign.
LosBlanquivermells are set to host Carlo Ancelotti's side in a game that is scheduled to take place at the Estadi Montilivi on Saturday September 30th at 6.30pm CEST.
Both teams have started strong this term, offering LALIGA fans some of the most exciting games of the first few matchdays. Here are five reasons why you simply can't miss this weekend's duel between Girona FC and Los Blancos.
Real Madrid's bogey team
The Madrid-based side haven't managed to win any of their last three games against Girona FC. In fact, in the last three duels between the two teams, the Catalans have grabbed a draw and two wins, including a huge 4-2 victory on home soil last April, when Taty Castellanos netted four times to dismantle Real Madrid's defence. Girona FC had previously won their first ever game against Los Blancos, beating them 2-1 on home soil in October 2017, a few months after LosBlanquivermells had secured promotion to the Spanish football top flight for the first time in their history. Meanwhile, the last Los Blancos win away at Montilivi dates back in August 2018. Karim Benzema netted a brace, with Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos scoring one each to lead their team to a 4-1 victory.
A battle between prodigious Brazilian attackers
Some of the most talented Brazilian forwards in European football are expected to take to the pitch on Saturday. Sávio Moreira de Oliveira, also known as Savinho, has taken the league by storm this season, scoring two goals and recording four assists in Girona FC's first seven games. Aged 19, he is considered one of the league's top dribblers along with his compatriot Vinícius, whom he will face this weekend. "I love it when I do a fancy trick and the fans shout or go 'ooh!' and stand up," Sávio told Sport earlier this month. "I like it a lot. After the last game at Montilivi against UD Las Palmas, I was watching videos and I could see that the fans were getting up from their seats." Vinícius and Sávio won't be the only Brazilians to feature in the game, as Rodrygo and Yan Couto have also established themselves in their respective teams' line-ups thus far. The most exciting fact is that none of these four prodigies is older than 23, but they have all already managed to stand out against strong LALIGA EA SPORTS opponents.
A Girona FC squad full of youth and talent
Girona FC boast one of the youngest squads in the league with an average age of 26.3. Meanwhile, their boss, Míchel, is currently the fifth youngest coach in LALIGA EA SPORTS, making LosBlanquivermells one of the most exciting projects in the league. Míchel has found a way to develop talented players by blending youth and experience in the starting line-up, which features prodigies such as Real Madrid academy product Miguel Gutiérrez, as well as Arnau Martínez, Yan Couto and breakout star Sávio, along with accomplished veterans in David López, Daley Blind and Cristhian Stuani, and the leadership of David López and Aleix García. Ever-present for Girona FC so far this season and crucial in the team's stellar performances so far this season, as Aleix García's match stats against RCD Mallorca last week show.
The need to build momentum ahead of ElClasico
Atlético de Madrid dealt a major blow to Los Blancos on Sunday at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano, handing Ancelotti's men their first defeat this season and putting an end to their six-game winning streak across all competitions. Real Madrid bounced back with a win over UD Las Palmas on Wednesday, and they are aware that they are heading into what is expected to be a demanding October due to the busy calendar, one which will culminate with ElClasico against FC Barcelona at the Estadio Olímpico in Montjuïc on October 28th.
An abundance of scoring sources
Girona FC have been hailed for the spectacle they have offered so far this season, going unbeaten in their first seven matches and winning all their three home duels in style. What makes their achievement even more impressive is that they don't just count on one player to carry the team on his shoulders. In fact, as many as 11 different players have managed to get their names on the scoresheet at least once in LosBlanquivermells' first seven games, in which the team netted a total of 18 times. This means that more than half of the 21 players who featured for Girona FC in those matches managed to celebrate a goal of their own.
