Barcelona vs Girona Prediction for 18 October 2025 - Football

🔈 Can the Blaugrana bounce back in front of their fans after a significant setback in the last league round? One of the standout fixtures in Saturday's La Liga schedule is the clash between Barcelona and Girona. During the international break, some fans of the Catalan club even called for the German coach to step down. Meanwhile, the Red-and-Whites are still struggling to find their best form, having secured their first win of the season in the previous round. The clubs are on opposite ends not only in the league standings but also in terms of development. Bookmakers give Barca a 12-fold advantage.

Head-to-Head

📊 Let's take a look at the head-to-head statistics between the teams: the "Blaugrana" have secured 9 victories, there have been 2 draws, and the "White-Reds" have claimed 4 wins. In the last La Liga campaign, the "Blaugrana" left no trace of the "Girona" with a commanding 4-1 victory both at Montjuïc and Montilivi. The average goals scored in their encounters stand at: Barcelona – 2.93, Girona – 1.14.

Barcelona Team Overview

🔵 The reigning national champions have hit a rough patch, suffering two consecutive defeats across all competitions. These setbacks have sparked considerable criticism of Hansi Flick among the club's fans. The main argument is the German coach's lack of flexibility and his excessive dogmatism. Currently, Barça have amassed 19 points in La Liga, just two behind the league leaders, Real Madrid. Notably, the Blaugrana average 2.75 goals per game while conceding 1.13. Impressively, Barcelona have yet to drop points at home. Whether they can maintain this trend will soon be revealed.

🔴 In the last round of La Liga, Barcelona traveled to the "Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan" to face Sevilla (1-4). Things went awry for the visitors from the start, as by the 13th minute, the Nervionenses earned a penalty, successfully converted by former Barcelona player Alexis Sanchez. According to expected goals metrics, the Blaugrana deservedly ended up without points: 2.79 to 2.25 in favor of Sevilla. The club's tactical model is built on a style of combination play, which is Barcelona's hallmark, yet the German coach occasionally outsmarts himself.

Girona Team Overview

⚪ Michel and his squad are under immense pressure, having only secured 6 points from 8 matches so far. Currently, the "red and whites" find themselves in the relegation zone, with predictions about the club's future looking grim. Notably, Girona have the leakiest defense in the league, conceding an average of 2.13 goals per game. Meanwhile, they manage to score just 0.63 times per match. Michel's side have only once defeated Barcelona away in an official match, during the 2023/24 season, when they netted four goals against Iñaki Peña.

🔴 In the last round, Girona claimed their first victory of the season against Valencia (2-1). It wasn't a match where either side dominated, but more effective play in the attacking third and clinical finishing allowed Girona to celebrate their first win of the campaign. Michel typically employs a 3-4-3 formation, with a key feature being two wide central defenders with excellent passing ability. One such player is Daley Blind. Looking ahead, Vladyslav Vanat could become a pivotal figure for the club; the Ukrainian forward excels in open spaces and consistently capitalizes on his runs into free areas. He has already scored 2 goals this season.

Latest news

Barcelona

📰 One of the most significant stories in recent days is the contract extension of Frenkie de Jong—the Dutch midfielder has signed a deal until the summer of 2029. It's reported that his release clause now stands at €500 million. Here's what the player himself had to say about the new contract: "I won't disclose how much I'll be earning. [The media] have always exaggerated that figure, and it affected people's perception of me. If people read in the papers that Frenkie is the highest-paid, that's your fault. I'm happy to have extended my contract with Barça." This season, the 28-year-old has made eight appearances for the Blaugrana, contributing just one assist.

🎤 Barcelona's current form was addressed by the club's sporting director Deco: "We are not as magnificent and energetic as we were portrayed last season. We are a team when we work together, and we're hard to beat because we possess quality. But if we think class means more than hard work, we have problems. I can't dictate what people should expect. To win the Champions League title or compete for it, you must first perform at the highest level. We have the potential to compete. Two or three years ago, the main goal was to fight again and ensure stability. Because there's no point in winning one season without continuity. Probably, with more room for Financial Fair Play compliance, we could have made more transfers, but that wasn't a priority. The idea is to have a foundation. And by maintaining it, you also secure contracts.

❌ In Barcelona's injury list remain Joan Garcia (knee injury), Gavi (knee injury), Robert Lewandowski (hip injury), Dani Olmo (muscle injury), Raphinha (hip injury), and Marc-André ter Stegen (back injury).

Girona

🎤 Recently, a press conference was held featuring Ignasi Mas-Bagà (CEO) and Quique Cárcel (sporting director). Quique acknowledged that the season's start hasn't met fans' expectations: "Of course, I'm not at all satisfied with how things began, especially in the first three matches. The team gave it their all, and I believe they'll continue to do so. Our goal is to climb the league table as quickly as possible, and we will achieve that." The sporting director also expressed support for the coaching staff, particularly Michel, reaffirming his confidence in him: "There is a strong connection with Michel. He is my favorite coach and has the club's full support. He is undergoing significant growth, and I would like to continue working with him."

❌ Girona's injury list is extensive: Ricard Artero, Alejandro Frances, Juan Carlos, Donny van de Beek, Azzedine Ounahi, Abel Ruiz, Jon Solis Romero, and Viktor Tsygankov. Additionally, Ivan Martin will miss the upcoming match due to suspension.

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

In 4 of the last 5 head-to-head encounters, there have been no more than 4 yellow cards shown. This trend is also evident in 8 of Girona's last 10 matches. Looking at the average number of yellow cards each team receives this season: the "Blaugrana" average 1.4, while the "White-and-Reds" average 2. Considering all of this, we're opting for under 4.5 total yellow cards.

⚽ Goals Prediction

This season, Barcelona's matches have arguably been some of the most thrilling and high-scoring. In fact, at least 3 goals have been scored in their last 7 games. Interestingly, a similar scenario has occurred in 4 of the last 5 head-to-head meetings between these teams. You can't overlook the factors of Barcelona's potent attack and Girona's weaker defense. Therefore, we suggest going with over 3.5 total goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Barcelona are among the leaders in average corners per game, with around 7. In comparison, Girona averages just 3.9. In head-to-head matchups, the "Blaugrana" hold a significant advantage in this statistical category: 6.3 to 3.4. It's unlikely we’ll see a miracle from the visitors, and we expect total domination from Hansi Flick's side. Our pick is Barcelona to win the corner count with a -4.5 handicap.

The current Girona side lacks competitiveness and seems only fit for a relegation battle at this stage. Michel's tactics are well-known, and he doesn't show much flexibility in his approach. Meanwhile, the Blaugrana are eager to redeem themselves in front of their fans after a humiliating defeat in the previous round and aim to regain the top spot in the standings. We predict a final score of 4-1, with the key bet being Barcelona's victory with a handicap of -1.5.