Girona will be bidding to continue their remarkable start to the 2023-24 La Liga campaign when they welcome struggling Celta Vigo to Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Friday night.
The home side are currently second in the table, level on 25 points with leaders Real Madrid, while Celta sit down in 18th position, boasting just six points from their opening 10 matches.
Match preview
© Reuters
Girona's form has undoubtedly been one of the main stories of the season in La Liga thus far, with the Catalan giants winning eight, drawing one and losing one of their 10 matches to collect 25 points, which has left them second in the table, level on points with leaders Real Madrid.
Michel's side have hardly missed a step this term, with their only loss coming at home to Real Madrid at the end of September, and they have responded impressively to that setback.
Indeed, Girona recorded a 1-0 win over Cadiz before the international break and then beat Almeria 5-2 on Sunday, with the Catalan outfit actually coming from two goals behind in that contest to triumph, with Artem Dovbyk, who now has five league goals this term, registering a brace.
The White and Reds are only in their fourth-ever season at this level, with their best finish proving to be 10th in both 2017-18 and 2022-23, so they are on course to create history this term.
It will be very difficult for Girona to maintain this form and actually be serious challengers for the top four, but their performances and results this term have been incredible.
© Reuters
Celta, on the other hand, have struggled this season, only picking up six points from their 10 matches, which has left them in 18th position in the table.
The Sky Blues have a record of one win, three draws and six defeats in La Liga this season, while they have only found the back of the net on 10 occasions, which is one of the lowest attacking records in the division.
Celta have been present in Spain's top flight since earning promotion from the Segunda Division during the 2011-12 campaign, and they finished a respectable 13th last term.
There is still an awful lot of football to be played this season, but Rafael Benitez's side are struggling, failing to win any of their last six in the league, and they will enter this contest off the back of a 3-0 home loss to Atletico Madrid last weekend.
Celta are unbeaten in their last three La Liga matches against Girona, though, including a 1-0 victory in the corresponding match last term, while the points were shared in a 1-1 draw when the two teams last locked horns in Vigo towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
Girona will again be without the services of Borja Garcia, Juan Carlos, Bernardo Espinosa, Joel Roca, Ricard Artero and Toni Villa for Friday's clash.
The team did not suffer any fresh problems against Almeria last time out, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the same starting XI take to the field for the first whistle.
Dovbyk has replaced Cristhian Stuani as the starting centre-forward, and he is set to be joined in the final third by Ivan Martin and Savio, who also both registered against Almeria last time out.
As for Celta, Joseph Aidoo is a long-term absentee due to a serious knee injury, while Carles Perez and Mihailo Ristic are missing until at least the middle of next month due to muscular problems.
The visitors will also be without the services of goalkeeper Ivan Villar, who was sent off in the early stages of the team's clash with Atletico last time out.
Vicente Guaita will therefore get the nod between the sticks, while there is expected to be a change in the final third of the field, with Anastasios Douvikas expected to replace Iago Aspas, who is still waiting for his first goal of the campaign.
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; E Garcia, D Lopez, Blind; Couto, Herrera, A Garcia, Gutierrez; Martin, Dovbyk, Savio
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Vazquez, Starfelt, Nunez, Sanchez; Mingueza, Beltran, De la Torre; Larsen, Douvikas, Bamba
We say: Girona 2-1 Celta Vigo
Celta are not in the best place at the moment, so it is difficult to back them to pick up a positive result here. We are actually expecting the scoreline to be close on Friday, as Celta have a lot of quality in their side, but Girona should be able to record their ninth league victory of the campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
