A huge clash with consequences at both ends of the La Liga table is brewing as Girona fight to climb out of the relegation zone while Real Madrid look to protect their narrow lead at the top. Despite enduring their toughest 13-game start to a top-flight season, Girona's spirited 1-1 draw at Real Betis hinted that there's still plenty of belief in Michel's side.
They've dropped nine more points than at this stage of their last relegation campaign, but recent form hasn't been all doom they've lost just once in four league outings W1, D2, and their once-leaky defence seems to be tightening up at last.
Real Madrid enter the weekend sitting top by a single point, though their momentum has been slowed by consecutive away draws.