7M - Preview: Girona vs Barcelona - Predictions, Team News, and Lineups

Barcelona will look to bounce back from a surprising defeat in the Copa del Rey as they resume their La Liga campaign against Catalan rivals Girona on Monday night.

Currently, Hansi Flick's team leads the La Liga table, sitting just one point ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, while Girona ranks 12th in the standings.

Match Preview

Girona's recent form has significantly improved their league standing. Under coach Michel, the team currently holds a record of six wins, eight draws, and nine losses from 23 league matches this season. They have achieved four wins in their last eight league fixtures and lost only twice during that stretch. However, the relegation battle remains tight, with just four points separating them from 18th-placed Rayo Vallecano.

Most recently, Girona played to a 1-1 draw against Sevilla and also drew 1-1 with Getafe at home at the end of January. Despite their recent resurgence, Girona has one of the poorest home records in La Liga this season, earning only 13 points from 11 matches with just three wins.

In contrast, Barcelona has the second-best away record in the league this season, having amassed 25 points from their 12 road games. The reigning champions have won their last three La Liga matches and still sit atop the table, one point clear of Real Madrid, who will take on Real Sociedad on Saturday night.

However, Barcelona enters this match following a shocking 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday, where they fell behind by four goals at halftime and failed to recover. This defeat means they face a tough challenge if they wish to secure a place in the Copa del Rey final.

Despite the setback, Barcelona's immediate focus is on La Liga, and they will be aiming for their ninth victory over Girona, who has only managed to defeat their rivals twice in history. Girona's last win over Barcelona came in a memorable 4-2 match in December 2023. However, Flick's side has won the last three encounters, including a 2-1 victory earlier this season.

Possible Starting Lineups:

Girona:
Gazzaniga; Rincon, Reis, Blind, Martinez; Beltran, Martin; Tsygankov, Lemar, Gil; Vanat

Barcelona:
J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; E Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Fermin; Lewandowski

Prediction: Girona 1-2 Barcelona

While Girona is certainly capable of making this match challenging for Barcelona, the away side's superior quality should help them secure an important three points.