Firstly Real Madrid must win their matches, start with Girona as a next opponent, and secondly they will have to wait patiently for more lost points from Barcelona to take over the first position or they will have to wait until a second El Clasico in this season do to that.
Even though Real Madrid may not be in a good form but they will be confident to win this match that will be played on 8 December. The last time these two teams meet, Real Madrid won by 4-0 and also before that in September 2023, Real Madrid beat Girona by 3-0. Since both these times, Real Madrid won the match convincingly, they would start as favorites. I would be betting on them even though Real Madrid lost by 2-0 by Liverpool in UEFA champions league. Real Madrid stand at 2nd position after Barcelona.
Well, Girona is not a well known club, I mean majority of people who are not so die hard fans of football don't even know who they are, like myself who only pays attention to, and love to watch only premier league games don't have in indept knowledge of who Girona are, but I do with Real Madrid..
I perfectly understand that winning in football games has nothing to do with the popularity of the team or club playing, but also on the other hand, we should as well understand that a football club gets more popular if they are doing very well in their performances and winning games. So using this context, I would immediately choose real Madrid over Girona because it is assumable that real Madrid is known well because they are good, while Girona is not that well known because they are perhaps, still lacking alot of ingredients in their performances which means, they aren't doing that much well as real Madrid.
I may not be placing bet on this match, but definitely rooting for real Madrid to win the match.