Real Madrid to bounce back from a difficult week when they host Oviedo
Real Madrid will look to bounce back from a difficult week when they host already-relegated Real Oviedo at the Bernabeu on Thursday evening in matchday 36 of La Liga.
The hosts are having a second successive trophyless season after Barcelona were confirmed as La Liga champions at their expense, while the visitors arrive in Madrid having already been condemned to Segunda Division football for next season.
It has been a deeply disappointing campaign for Real Madrid, whose hopes of winning the La Liga title were emphatically extinguished following a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona. That defeat extended a painful pattern of recent results against their fiercest rivals, with the Blaugrana having also beaten Madrid in January, and the latest loss will do little to lift the mood at a club accustomed to competing for major honours.
Real Madrid’s overall league record of 24 wins, five draws and six defeats tells the story of a side with genuine quality, yet one that has failed to sustain the consistency required to mount a serious title challenge across the full course of the campaign.
Los Blancos’ 70 goals scored and 33 conceded represent the second-best attacking and defensive records in La Liga respectively, bettered only by champions Barcelona in both categories.
At the Bernabeu, Madrid have been a formidable proposition, winning 14 and drawing one of their 17 home fixtures with only two defeats.
Recent form across all competitions has been mixed, however, with two wins, one draw and two defeats from their last five matches, and Arbeloa will be determined to ensure his side responds to the Barcelona defeat with a commanding performance on home soil.
Real Oviedo arrive at the Bernabeu as a relegated side, their fate confirmed following a 1-1 draw between Rayo Vallecano and Girona that left them unable to escape the bottom three and condemned them to Segunda Division football next season.
The last meeting between the sides in August ended in a 3-0 victory for Madrid away from home, and there is little reason to expect a different outcome here.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Girona to boost their survival hopes against Real Sociedad
Girona will be looking to boost their survival hopes when they welcome Real Sociedad to Montilivi for Thursday’s La Liga encounter.
The home side are languishing in 17th spot, while the visitors head into matchday 36 in eighth position.
With three games left to play, Girona are sitting just two points clear of the drop zone after failing to win any of their last five matches since beating Villarreal 1-0 on April 6 (D2, L3).
Michel’s side at least managed to salvage a point in Monday’s away clash against his former club, Rayo Vallecano, which saw Girona legend Cristhian Stuani net a 90th-minute equaliser just four minutes after Alemao thought he had won the game for Los Franjirrojos.
The Catalan club will now return home to Montilivi as they continue their quest to extend their four-year stay in the top flight, with the hosts looking to avoid a third consecutive home defeat.
In fact, the Blanquivermells start the matchday with the joint fourth-worst home record in La Liga, having collected just 22 points from their 17 outings at Montilivi.
Only two teams have conceded more goals than Girona (25), while just three teams have scored fewer home goals than the 19 efforts they have mustered in front of their supporters this season.
Girona have never beaten Real Sociedad at home in La Liga, but they can at least take confidence from the fact they pulled off a 2-1 victory in December’s reverse fixture.
Aiming to claim their first La Liga win since beating Levante on April 4, Real Sociedad will be able to take confidence from the fact they have won two of their last three away games against Girona, including a 1-0 victory on their most recent trip to Montilivi in October 2024.
Girona may have a greater incentive than their opponents, but they have failed to win any of their previous four top-flight home meetings with Real Sociedad, and with that in mind, we think they will have to settle for a share of the spoils, especially as they are winless in five La Liga outings.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Valencia lockhorns with Rayo Vallecano
Valencia CF will look to make home advantage count when they host Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Mestalla on Thursday evening in a La Liga Matchday 36 fixture.
The hosts arrive in the game looking to build on a morale-boosting victory at Athletic Club, while the visitors travel to Valencia in fine form and just one point ahead of their opponents in the table.
It has been a season of mixed fortunes for Valencia CF. Carlos Corberan’s side head into Thursday’s fixture with reason for optimism, having claimed a 1-0 victory away at Athletic Club in their most recent outing
Their recent league form has been patchy, however, with only two wins, one draw and three defeats from their last six La Liga fixtures, including two defeats from their last three home outings, making Thursday’s match a must-win if they are to finish the campaign on a positive note.
Rayo Vallecano arrive at the Mestalla in the midst of an extraordinary season, having reached their first-ever major European final, where they will face Crystal Palace.
In La Liga, Rayo sit 10th in the table with 43 points – one point and two places above Thursday’s hosts, from 10 wins, 13 draws and 12 defeats, with 36 goals scored, and 42 conceded across the campaign.
With both sides separated by just one point in the table, this has all the makings of an evenly contested affair that could go either way.
Valencia’s superior home record this season gives them a slight edge, but Rayo have shown throughout the campaign that they are no pushovers, and a draw feels like the fair result.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
