Girona will be bidding to bounce back from successive defeats in La Liga when they continue their campaign at home to Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.
Michel's side have seen their title challenge halted by losses to Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, while Rayo are on a six-game winless run in La Liga, but they held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw last time out.
Match preview
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Girona's 2023-24 La Liga campaign has been remarkable, boasting a record of 17 wins, five draws and three defeats from 25 matches to collect 56 points, which has left them second in the table.
The Catalan outfit have just seen their title hopes take a hit in recent weeks, though, having only picked up one point from their last three matches, and they will enter this game off the back of successive defeats to Real Madrid and Athletic, conceding seven times in the process.
Girona are six points behind the leaders Real Madrid, while they sit just two points ahead of third-placed Barcelona, who are quietly picking up positive results amid the turbulence at the club.
Michel's side are crucially seven points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao in the race to secure a top-four finish, which would still go down as a remarkable campaign for the club.
The White and Reds, who are in just their fourth-ever campaign at this level of football, have the fourth-best home record in La Liga this season, picking up 29 points from 12 games in front of their own supporters.
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Rayo, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid last weekend; Joselu sent Los Blancos into an early lead, but Raul de Tomas levelled from the penalty spot in the 27th minute.
Los Franjirrojos had been on a three-game losing run ahead of the clash with Real Madrid, and they are without a victory in Spain's top flight since beating Getafe 2-0 at the start of the year.
Inigo Perez replaced Francisco as head coach of the capital side on February 14, with his first match proving to be the 1-1 draw with Carlo Ancelotti's side, and the 36-year-old will now be eyeing another positive result in his second game at the helm.
Rayo have won five, drawn 10 and lost 10 of their 25 league matches this season to collect 25 points, which has left them in 14th position in the table, eight points ahead of the relegation zone.
Los Franjirrojos actually boast the sixth-best away record in the division this season, with 16 of their 25 points this season coming on their travels, but they have already lost twice to Girona this term - a 2-1 defeat in La Liga in November and a 3-1 reverse in the Copa del Rey in January.
Team News
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Girona will again definitely be missing Daley Blind and Joel Roca on Monday through injury, while David Lopez and Toni Villa remain major doubts for the Catalan outfit.
Yan Couto served a suspension against Athletic last time out, though, and the Brazilian is expected to come back into the starting side, with Arnau Martinez potentially dropping to the bench.
Portu is pushing to be involved in the final third of the field, but it is likely that the Spaniard will be on the bench once again, with Savio retaining his spot down the left and Ivan Martin playing as the number 10.
As for Rayo, Pep Chavarria and Diego Mendez remain major doubts for the visitors due to thigh problems, while Isi Palazon is suspended due to the milestone yellow card that he picked up against Real Madrid.
Palazon's absence is expected to open the door for Jorge de Frutos to come into the side in a wide area, with Alvaro Garcia operating on the opposite side.
De Tomas's goal against Real Madrid last time out should mean that he retains his spot in the final third of the field, with the likes of Radamel Falcao and Sergio Camello expected to be named on the bench once again.
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Couto, E Garcia, Juanpe, Gutierrez; Herrera, A Garcia; Tsyhankov, Martin, Savio; Dovbyk
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Balliu, Hernandez, Lejeune, Espino; De Frutos, Valentin, U Lopez, A Garcia; De Tomas, Trejo
We say: Girona 2-0 Rayo Vallecano
Girona desperately need to bounce back from their successive defeats, and we are expecting the Catalan side to be victorious here. Rayo will have been boosted by their draw with Real Madrid, but Girona should have enough quality to pick up a much-needed three points on Monday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
