If they do not result in great conclusions, these six games are adequate to determine whether a team is comfortable or uncomfortable for certain rivals. In the history of the Liga, no team has performed worse against Girona than Real Madrid, who have only managed three wins (two games) out of six games, three victories by the Catalan team, and one draw.
A historical first duel
Almost always matches with a lot of crumb. In October 2017, at the end of the month, Real Madrid had its first visit to Montilivi in the midst of the independence tsunami in Catalonia. A demonstration that reached the air and then developed without further consequences in the flammable environment that surrounded the event. However, Madrid had to modify procedures, using a bus without club indicators and restricting its presence in a city deeply linked to the reason for independence.
Girona, delirious about facing Madrid in “a game to enjoy”
The truth is that, despite the noise that dominated the days before the game, it took place without incident. The patron saints of San Narcís coincide with the visit of Madrid, which still affected the festive atmosphere of the event. And above all, Girona’s match, which saw them defeat Madrid in three consecutive Champions League finals against Zidane (that season they would reach the Kiev final against Liverpool) thanks to goals from Stanian and Portu in the second half, which eventually turned into an Isco goal during the opening act.
Jogging in the goal
In August 2018, Julen Lopetegui came to command the white team, leading to Madrid’s only victory in Montilivi. This time, Madrid came back thanks to two penalties converted by Ramos and Benzema and two goals later from Bale and Karim. However, the controversy in the goal, in which Keylor remained despite the arrival of Courtois, dominated the pre-match and post-match. This situation would be the main confrontation during the months of the course, since it is about Madrid’s poor performance in the dismissal of Lopetegui, that very harsh statement from the club, the arrivals of Solari and, finally, the return of Zidane.
Losing at the Bernabéu
It was with the Argentine on the bench when Madrid lost its second straight game against Girona and also at the Bernabéu. The Catalans once again scored a goal ahead of Madrid (Casemiro), this time thanks to Stuart and Portu. The match led to a streak of five consecutive wins in the League and was the prelude to Madrid’s great collapse in the month of February 2019. For example, the whites said goodbye to the race for the title after eliminations in the Champions League (Ajax), Copa (Barça) and another KO in the League classic.
The “invented” penitents
Ancelotti: “It’s not a penalty; they’ve invented it.”
After four years of German defeat in the Second World War, the match was rescheduled for the previous season, 22–23. Another party that suffers a long queue. The Catalans won the match at the Bernabéu thanks to an Asensio penalty that Ancelotti called “invented.” I don’t like talking about this, but I will do it today. It’s pretty obvious that you are not penalized for not using your hand to strike the ball. After speaking with Asensio, I can say that he has given me the finger. Indeed, the left hand finds itself in a relatively strange position. It is possible that if he touches the ball with his hand, there are doubts; However, he does not damage the ball with his hand. “They’ve invented it,” stated the much impressed Madrid defender, who also witnessed how a goal was annulled for Rodrygo due to a potential Gazzaniga error. After their victory in the World Cup in Qatar, Real Madrid, who had won ten of their first league games, began to express their sadness.
The Taty poker player
Taty Castellanos: “The match against Real Madrid was a joke”
Girona’s last match against Madrid, on April 25, in which Taty Castellanos played a relevant role in that process of decomposition, in which Madrid’s negative protagonist, Luna, together with an unknown Militao, defended the goal in four times. After Kepa achieved the revalidation of the league title won in the previous season at an impossible level, the match deepened the doubts about the Ukrainian goal that have crystallized this season with the arrival of Kepa after Courtois’ severe injury.