Real Madrid might have anticipated Girona to be out of contention by now, but Carlo Ancelotti's team enter Sunday's encounter against Almeria in second place.
The La Liga standings become increasingly intriguing as we enter the second half of the season, and Madrid could leapfrog Girona into the top spot with a victory in their postponed fixture. The gap is just one point, and despite the setback in the Copa del Rey against Atletico Madrid on Thursday night, they are considered strong favourites here.
Almeria currently languish at the bottom of the La Liga table and have endured a dismal season, failing to secure a single victory and accumulating only six points. With Los Blancos eager to assert their dominance with a significant win, it would be remarkable if Almeria managed to glean anything positive from their visit to the Bernabeu.
Prediction
Madrid endured only their second defeat in all competitions this season during their exit from the Copa del Rey at the hands of Atletico and must now rediscover their ruthless form to pursue the La Liga title.
This presents an ideal chance for Los Blancos to rebound and rejuvenate the positive atmosphere within the club through a victory marked by an abundance of goals. It is anticipated to be a straightforward win for Ancelotti's side, and any other outcome would be a source of worry.
Prediction: Real Madrid 4-0 Almeria
Team News
Madrid has not suffered from an excessive number of injuries this season but has endured months without Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao, both of whom would typically expect to start nearly every match. David Alaba has now joined that list after sustaining a serious knee injury.
In addition to that defensive trio, Lucas Vazquez is a major uncertainty due to a hamstring issue. Madrid managed to steer clear of any new injuries during the Copa del Rey exit, but there will likely still be some adjustments made by manager Ancelotti.
Almeria is experiencing a challenging season and appears destined for relegation, with numerous injuries exacerbating their situation. They are without six senior players for the trip to Madrid, including former Manchester United youngster Arnau Puigmal.
Ibrahima Kone is also unavailable, along with Leo Baptistao, Marciano Sanca, Iddrisu Baba, and Houboulang Mendes. Luis Suarez has been their primary goal threat this season with four goals, but he may not be fit to start despite coming off the bench against Girona in the previous match.
Lineups:
Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius.
Almeria (4-5-1): Maximiano; Pubill, Montes, Chumi, Akieme; Arribas, Robertone, Gonzalez, Lopy, Embarba; Ramazani.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have met each other 15 times with Real Madrid winning 12 matches. Almeria won one while two matches ended in a draw.
