The David and Goliath Gathering in La Liga

Girona vs Real Madrid

On paper, this should be a La Liga mismatch.

The champions of Europe—13-time winners of the European Cup—against a club whose stadium capacity is under 14,000 and has just completed its first ever season in the Spanish top flight in its 88-year history.

The team not only survived last season but somehow finished 10^th with a squad made up mainly of loan players and free signings, and they are very much operating in the same market this time around as one of their most recent recruits has proved.

The difference is vast.

While one club, until recently, had Cristiano Ronaldo, the other had Cristhian Stuani.

That is, however, not mean to be disrespectful as you will see. Read on, dear football fan.

Talking Points

La Liga 2018 news: — Gareth Bale is expected to lead Real Madrid in victory against Girona

Although Real Madrid are being linked to the likes of Valencia forward Rodrigo Moreno, PSG star Neymar, Bayern Munich frontman Robert Lewandowski and Inter striker Mauro Icardi, they proved in their opening win over Getafe that they are still a formidable team.

That game even showed glimpses of why Gareth Bale may well relish the responsibility in the post-Ronaldo era.

The Welshman assumed the mantle of talisman with aplomb and was their most dangerous incisive player on the pitch as he looks to improve on his 16-goal tally of last season (21 in all competitions).

The difference between £85 million-man Bale and Girona, let alone Madrid and their opponents, is a gulf.

To prove the point on just how difficult a repeat of the 10th-place finish will be, Girona were held at home on opening day by newly promoted Real Valladolid in a relatively incident-free match.

To be even considered as potential qualifiers for the Europa League again would mean Eusebio Sacristan’s charges are punching well above their weight.

Real have issues of their own, there is no doubt.

They lack the strength they once had and may even lose more players before the transfer window closes.

Young promising Norwegian defender Martin Odegaard will spend another season on loan in the Dutch league after a deal was agreed for him to join Vitesse Arnhem.

The Norwegian spent last season at Heerenveen where he was a regular and played 43 matches in total, scoring four goals.

Striker Raul de Tomas is also hoping to depart Los Blancos on loan and return to Rayo Vallecano, the team he helped earn a promotion last term with 24 goals.

And then there is Marcos Llorente, a target for Espanyol, but Real know they can ill-afford to let the 23-year-old leave while they are short of back-up.

Although it’s unlikely the names just mentioned will feature in Real’s starting XI, new manager Julen Lopetegui has a big 10 days coming up.

A big name is unlikely to arrive before the trip to Girona’s Estadi Montilivi, but the gulf between the sides remains—how Girona wish they could scoop one up, even on loan!

History

If Girona were to take even a point from mighty Real, it would be one of the undoubted La Liga 2018 news stories of the season, even with the campaign still in its infancy.

Yet, we said that last season. And anyone with a Girona affinity will never forget the moment they famously defeated the European and then reigning Spanish champions.

The victory, courtesy of goals from ex-Middlesbrough man Stuani and Portu, was arguably the most memorable moment in the club’s history.

They even had the temerity to score three times in the Bernabeu in the return fixture in March, albeit going down 6-3 on that occasion with Ronaldo—now departed of the capital city of course—helping himself to four of the goals.

Betting Tip

	Girona vs Real Madrid	Total Goal 4-6 @ 2.48
	August 27, 04:15 (GMT+8)

SBOBET fans cannot realistically bet against Real.

I certainly cannot.

The La Liga 2018 odds speak for themselves in many ways, with 1X2 pricing Girona at 8.75 and Real Madrid at 1.36. Even the draw comes in at 4.50.

The Asian Handicap odds also tell its own story. However, a repeat of last year’s shock victory—2-1 Girona—is priced at 28.00 in the correct score bets. Furthermore, for another goal-fest like we saw in Madrid, a total of seven goals or more is offered at 11.00.

Personally, I feel it will be somewhere in between, though there’s no doubt Real Madrid will dominate.