Prediction: Girona vs Barcelona

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Barcelona will aim to continue their flawless start to the season as they travel to Estadi Montilivi on Sunday for a Catalan derby against Girona.

The Blaugrana currently sit atop La Liga, while Girona enter the weekend in fifth place, having collected seven points from their first four matches.

Girona

Girona are just days away from making their UEFA competition debut, having earned a Champions League spot with their third-place finish last season.

The Blanquivermells are already anticipating their trip to the French capital for their opening match against Paris Saint-Germain.

However, before turning their attention to their midweek clash at the Parc des Princes, Girona must first navigate a tough challenge against a red-hot Barcelona side.

After a significant squad overhaul in the summer, Girona had a shaky start to the season, opening with a 1-1 draw against Real Betis followed by a heavy 3-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.

Since then, Michel’s side has bounced back impressively, thrashing Osasuna 4-0 at Montilivi and securing a 2-0 win over Sevilla, with goals from Ivan Martin and Abel Ruiz.

Now aiming for a third straight victory, Girona will embrace their underdog status, drawing confidence from the fact that they completed a league double over Barcelona last season.

Team News

Girona remain without the injured duo of Ricard Artero and Jastin, while Oriol Romeu is ineligible to face his parent club due to a clause in his loan agreement.

Yangel Herrera, who missed international duty with Venezuela because of an adductor injury, is expected to be fit and ready to start in midfield against Barcelona.

Arnaut Danjuma, who made his Girona debut as a half-time substitute against Sevilla, is now pushing for his first start for Michel’s team.

Barcelona

After Xavi’s final season ended without silverware, the pressure is on Hansi Flick to deliver significant improvements in his first campaign as a La Liga head coach. Despite being early in his reign, Barcelona fans have reason for optimism, as the team has made a blistering start with four straight victories.

The Blaugrana gained momentum with three consecutive 2-1 wins over Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, and Rayo Vallecano before demolishing newly-promoted Real Valladolid 7-0 in their last game before the international break.

Raphinha netted a hat-trick, supported by goals from Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Dani Olmo, and Ferran Torres, propelling Barcelona into the break with a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Including results from last season, Barcelona have now won eight consecutive matches, but they’ll be mindful of their most recent league defeat, which came against Girona in May.

Before that loss at Montilivi, Barcelona had won all three of their previous La Liga away encounters with Girona without conceding, including a 1-0 victory in January 2023, where Pedri scored the match-winner.

Team News

Gavi has recently returned to Barcelona training as he continues his recovery from the serious knee injury he suffered in November 2023. Although making good progress, the 20-year-old is still unavailable for selection, joining Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, and Marc Bernal on the sidelines.

Midfielder Fermin Lopez has also been added to the injury list after sustaining a hamstring injury during training with Spain’s Under-21 team. Forward Ansu Fati is nearing a return, but it seems unlikely he will be risked for Sunday’s away match.

Conclusion

Girona are typically strong at home and will likely pose a tough challenge for Barcelona on Sunday. However, the visitors are expected to do enough to preserve their perfect start to the season and get revenge for the two losses they endured against the Blanquivermells last season.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet