Girona will be bidding to recover from three straight defeats in La Liga when they host Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon.
The Catalan outfit are currently 13th in the La Liga table, four points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano, while Celta occupy 10th, one point ahead of their opponents at Estadi Montilivi this weekend.
Match preview
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Girona have suffered seven defeats from their last eight matches in all competitions, including five of their last six in La Liga, with that disappointing run of form seeing them drop down into 13th spot in the table.
The Catalan outfit will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Real Madrid last weekend, while they were beaten 2-1 by Getafe in their last fixture in front of their own supporters in the middle of the month.
The White and Reds remain firmly in the mix for sixth position, though, sitting just four points behind sixth-placed Rayo, and it is shaping up to be a fascinating battle for the final European position in the top flight of Spanish football.
Girona had an extraordinary 2023-24 campaign, finishing in third spot in La Liga, which secured a spot in this season's Champions League, but they have found it more difficult to make their mark this term.
Even a top-half finish would represent a strong campaign for Michel's side, though, and they have enjoyed their recent meetings with Celta, winning two and drawing two of their last four fixtures in Spain's top flight.
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Celta's last win over Girona came in August 2022, and it was 1-1 when the pair locked horns in Vigo earlier this season.
The visitors will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Osasuna, which made it seven points from their last three matches, heaving also beaten Real Betis and drawn with Atletico Madrid since their last defeat at Valencia on February 22.
Claudio Giraldez's side have only been beaten in one of their last five league matches, and their strong run of form has left them in 10th spot in the table, boasting 32 points from their opening 25 matches of the campaign.
The Sky Blues are only three points behind sixth-placed Rayo and also firmly in the hunt for a European spot, but these are the type of matches that they will need to win to be taken seriously when it comes to a top-six position.
Celta have struggled on their travels during the 2024-25 campaign, though, only picking up one win from their 12 league games away from their own stadium, while Girona have won six of their 12 La Liga matches in front of their own supporters.
Team News
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Girona will be able to welcome Yangel Herrera back into their squad for this match, with the midfielder serving a suspension in his side's two-goal defeat to Real Madrid last time out.
Head coach Michel is expected to make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Los Blancos, with Herrera in line to return, while there could also be a spot in the final third of the field for Abel Ruiz.
Arthur and Jhon Solis are also among the options for change, but the pair are again expected to be among the substitutes for the first whistle on Saturday afternoon.
As for Celta, Miguel Rodriguez and Hugo Alvarez are both out of the match due to injury problems, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape for their clash with Girona this weekend.
Head coach Giraldez could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Osasuna, although Iago Aspas's goal off the bench in that clash might earn the experienced attacker a start.
Pablo Duran and Fran Beltran are also options, but the manner of the performance against Osasuna should mean that the likes of Hugo Sotelo and Williot Swedberg retain their positions in the side.
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; D Lopez, Krejci, Blind; A Martinez, Martin, Herrera, Romeu, Gutierrez; Ruiz, Danjuma
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; J Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Carreira, Sotelo, Moriba, Mingueza; Aspas, Iglesias, Swedberg
We say: Girona 1-1 Celta Vigo
There has only been five draws in the previous 20 meetings between Girona and Celta, but it was 1-1 earlier this season, and we can see the same scoreline occurring here; Celta are in the better form, but the Sky Blues are a difficult side to back on their travels, and we are expecting Girona to secure a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
