Prediction: Girona vs Barcelona

Verdict: Barcelona over 1.75 goals

 Best odds: 1.94

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Girona’s remarkable La Liga performance will be tested once more when they play the heavyweights of Spanish football, FC Barcelona. With a victory that could put them ahead of the visitors in the rankings, it may be yet another golden chance for the hosts to cap off their incredible season in the Spanish first division.

The game will take place at Estadio Municipal de Montilivi, where Girona have so far made quite statement this season suffering one loss in front of its 12,000 supporters. Barcelona hopes to leave a last impression by coming in second place, despite losing the title in the wake of Real Madrid’s contentious Santiago Bernabeu loss.

Girona

Girona led Spain’s top league at the beginning of the season, a performance that gave the home team a legitimate shot at winning the championship. While many compared Girona’s success to Leicester’s, when Claudio Ranieri surprised the Premier League by winning the title, it doesn’t seem conceivable this time.

Girona, however, is in the lead over Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao and is poised to make history by placing in the top 4 and securing a Champions League spot. The only team to win in La Liga this season at Estadio Municipal of Montilivi is Real Madrid, the eventual champions. Galacticos broke Girona’s unbeaten streak at the end of September with a 3-0 thumping.

Michel’s team increased their rhythm in the last two league games winning against Cadiz and Las Palmas. If the home win against Cadiz was expected, edging Las Palmas away with a 2-0 comfortable victory gave Girona hopes to finish 2nd by the end of this term.

The hosts must, however, keep up the pace in the last stages, as close games against Alaves, Villareal, and Valencia draw near and a win over Barcelona becomes increasingly important.

Team News

Michel has all of his players available to take on Barcelona. However, if they receive a booking, a few important figures could face suspensions for the upcoming games. Artem Dovbryk, the highest scorer topping the charts this season with 19 goals in La Liga, will try to score against Barcelona and help his team win.

Barcelona

Barcelona has been inconsistent this season due to several injuries to key players and below-par performances, which means Xavi Hernandez’s team will not win a trophy at the end of the current campaign. For the Blaugrana supporters, losing to PSG in the Champions League, dropping the Copa del Rey, and trailing Real Madrid in the title chase meant calamity.

Barcelona had a fantastic chance to win a title before the end of the campaign with two Champions League games against PSG. Even though Barca had the early advantage in the first leg in Paris, they collapsed at the Olympic Stadium and lost 4-1 to PSG.

The Santiago Bernabeu loss to rival Real Madrid ended the title fight too soon, even though Barca had a chance to reenter it. But Xavi’s reversal after he declared to quit the team after the season worked in his favour. In an outstanding response to this news, his men defeated Valencia (4–2), putting Barca in the forefront of the race for second place.

Even though Barca played well away from home, losing only one La Liga match (3-2 to Real Madrid), they suffered six more setbacks in which they failed to secure three points against opponents that were easily accessible. The draws at Rayo Vallecano, Granada, Mallorca, Getafe, and other teams proved highly expensive for Barcelona, who is currently 11 points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona has to defeat Girona to maintain their second-place standings ahead of a demanding schedule that includes challenging matches against Real Sociedad, Almeria, Rayo Vallecano, and Sevilla towards the end of the term.

Team News

Gavi is anticipated to recover before the end of the season from the horrific cruciate ligament damage he suffered in November. After recovering from his ankle injury, Frenkie de Jong may start the match on the bench against Girona.

Even though Robert Lewandowski struggled much in this campaign, the Polish star hopes to repeat his hat-trick-scoring effort against Valencia.

Key factors to consider

• Girons is undefeated in the last two games against Barcelona (D1W1)
• The hosts impressed this term with results above expectations that positioned Michel’s side to finish in the top 4
• Barcelona played below expectations this term being knocked out of all competitions
• The visitors hope to salvage their season and make a decent impression at the end by clinching the 2nd spot in La Liga

Conclusion

Barcelona and Girona are directly vying for the second spot in La Liga. The Blaugrana team has the firepower to put at least two goals in Girona’s net, even though the hosts have impressed in front of their supporters.

Verdict: Barcelona over 1.75 goals

 Best odds: 1.94

Bookmaker: ZetBet