Athletic Bilbao faces Girona in a crucial La Liga matchup that could impact their respective standings. Currently, Athletic Bilbao sits in 10th place, aiming to break into the top six, while Girona holds the 15th spot, comfortably above the relegation zone.
Match Preview: Girona vs. Athletic Bilbao
The game is set to take place this Saturday afternoon. Athletic Bilbao trails sixth-placed Celta Vigo by five points. Girona, with 31 points from 27 matches, is six points clear of the relegation zone occupied by Mallorca.
Team Form and Performance
- Girona’s recent form: LDWDLD
- Athletic Bilbao’s recent form: DWWWDL
- Athletic Bilbao’s performance across all competitions: LWWDLL
Girona enters the match after a 1-1 draw against Levante. They have won just one of their last seven La Liga games, which notably included a victory against the defending champions, Barcelona.
Despite being in a relatively safe position, Girona’s defense remains a concern, having conceded 43 goals this season. At home, they have accumulated only 16 points from 13 matches, ranking among the lowest in the league.
Head-to-Head Record
In their previous encounters, Girona and Athletic Bilbao have faced each other 11 times. The overall record currently favors Athletic, who have secured five wins compared to Girona’s four. Earlier this season, the teams played to a 1-1 draw, while the previous season saw Girona defeat Athletic, 2-1.
Injuries and Team News
Girona will be without key players due to injuries, including:
- Juan Carlos
- Donny van de Beek
- Portu
- Marc-Andre ter Stegen
- Bryan Gil
Experienced attacker Cristhian Stuani may require a late fitness assessment before the match.
Athletic Bilbao also faces injury challenges with:
- Benat Prados
- Unai Egiluz
- Nico Williams
Additionally, Alejandro Rego will miss the match after receiving a yellow card in their loss to Barcelona. Coach Ernesto Valverde is expected to make adjustments to his lineup, potentially including players such as Yuri Berchiche and Oihan Sancet.
Possible Starting Lineups
Here are the likely starting eleven for both teams:
Girona
- Gazzaniga
- Rincon
- Frances
- Blind
- Martinez
- Witsel
- Beltran
- Tsygankov
- Lemar
- Roca
- Vanat
Athletic Bilbao
- Simon
- Gorosabel
- Vivian
- Laporte
- Berchiche
- Ruiz de Galarreta
- Jauregizar
- I Williams
- Sancet
- Berenguer
- Guruzeta
As both teams prepare for this critical fixture, the outcome could have significant implications for their La Liga standings. The atmosphere is likely to be tense as each side seeks to capitalize on their opportunities.
