Barcelona will be looking to extend their lead on the top of the table as they travel to Girona for a Catalan derby in La Liga.
Xavi’s men snuffed out a 1-0 win against Getafe last time in league action while Girona suffered a 1-0 loss to Villarreal.
GIR vs FCB Match Details
Date: Saturday, 28 January 2023
Time: 16:15 (CET) / 20:45 (IST)
Venue: Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, Girona
GIR vs FCB Match Preview
Girona have put on a decent show of themselves since gaining promotion to the top flight this season, sitting in eleventh with four points clear of the drop zone. Their run of seven games without a defeat in the league only came to an end last weekend with a last-minute Dani Parejo compounding them to a 1-0 loss at Villarreal. The Yellow Submarines have been the second-best side in terms of home form this season defeating the holders Real Madrid at the Ceramica as well. Girona could have been the second team this season to take points out of them but the performance will give enough confidence to the White and Reds. They do face a tougher test in league leaders Barcelona next as they visit the town. Michel's side have not won against the Catalan giants in the last eight meetings with a single draw coming in the year 2018 at Camp Nou. Girona have picked up an impressive 15 points from their nine home league games this season although Barcelona have collected 21 points on the trip anyway. The aim for the home team is to avoid another defeat as any positive result from the sides beneath them will push them down to the dreaded relegation spot. Stopping Xavi’s men from scoring will be a massive task as they have not failed to score in the league since their opening-day goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano. However, Girona too failed to score only once in the league which came in the defeat to the Yellow Submarines.
Barcelona had to battle hard even against ten-man Real Sociedad in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey with Ousmane Dembele grabbing the only goal of the game to earn a 1-0 victory. Even for that keeper Alex Remiro was at fault while his opposite number Marc-André ter Stegen came up with crucial saves to prevent La Real from doing any damage on the evening in front of the home support. Since their splendid Super Cup victory against Real Madrid in Riyadh, the Blaugranas have not been at their best in their return to Spain keeping aside the 5-0 triumph against Primera division side AD Cueta in the league cup. It was Pedri’s goal that sealed the victory against Getafe last weekend with Barcelona unable to create more from their four shots on target and 68% of ball possession. The reason is the league’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski missing through suspension with the other forward Ferran Torres. With Memphis Depay sold to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona only have Ansu Fati as a central striker option. Lewandowski and Torres will sit out the trip to Girona as well but the Catalan giants will try to step up the gear to maintain their 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions. This will be the ideal fixture for the leaders to stretch a six points gap with second-placed Real Madrid who face third-placed Real Sociedad at home later this weekend.
Recent Form (all competitions)
GIR: LWDDW
FCB: WWWWD
Recent Form (league)
GIR: LWDDW
FCB: WWDWW
GIR vs FCB Predicted lineups
GIR: Paulo Gazzaniga; Arnau Martinez, Bernardo, Juanpe, Miguel Gutierrez; Toni Villa, Oriel Romeu, Aleix Garcia, Yangel Herrera, Riquelme; Valentin Castellanos
FCB: Ter Stegen; Sergio Roberto, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Jordi Alba; Pedri, Sergio Busquets, Gavi; Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati, Raphinha
GIR vs FCB Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ter Stegen (7)
DEF: A Martinez (6.5), Araujo (8), Christensen (8), Alba (8.5)
MID: A Garcia (8.5), Y Herrera (8), Pedri (9), Gavi (8.5)
FW: Dembele (9), Castellanos (9)
Vice-captain: Ousmane Dembele
Captain: Pedri
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