Girona VS Barcelona Match Prediction
- 2017-09-23
- 18:45:00
Barcelona will win this match.
These sides have met on just two meaningless occasions, a 2014 Copa Catalunya clash won 3-2 by Barcelona and a friendly in 2011, Barca winning 2-1.
%HEAD-TO-HEAD-STATS-BANNER%Girona are 12/1, a draw is 5/1 with Barcelona highly fancied at 2/9.
There is little doubt Barcelona win this game and odds of 2/9 are useful in an accumulator, but where can value be found in the betting markets? Girona have yet to be thrashed and Barcelona struggled at times in their last away game, so there is some hope for the underdogs avoiding a thrashing.
Luis Suarez wasn't required against Eibar and will start here, so a Suarez to score / Barcelona win bet represents decent value at 10/11.
Barcelona are too hot to handle at the moment, Girona will do well to hold on.
David Timor remains out but Marc Muniesa could return in central defence. Pablo Machín has been playing a 3-1-4-2 formation but will likely reel his full-backs into a 5-3-1 that was deployed against Atletico Madrid. Christian Stuani should lead the line to offer a threat on set pieces.
Christian Stuani has scored two of Girona's three goals, both coming in the 2-2 draw against Atlético Madrid. The 30-year-old Uruguayan striker was productive during his last season in La Liga with Espanyol in 2014/15, and Girona need him to provide goals in order to avoid a relegation battle.
Girona have started life in La Liga with a respectable win with two draws and two defeats. They have already faced Atletico Madrid (2-2), Athletic Bilbao (0-2) and Sevilla (0-1) but it gets no easier with Barcelona coming to town. Last time out Girona put in a respectable performance at Leganes, coming away with a point in a 0-0 draw.
Goalkeeper:Iraizoz
Defenders:Maffeo, Espinosa, Alcala, Juanpe, Benitez
Midfielders:Portu, Granell, Pons, Garcia
Forwards:Stuani
Rafinha and Ousmane Dembele are long term casualties but Ernesto Valverde is likely to call back Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Samuel Imtiti who didn't feature against Eibar. Valverde has options at right-back with Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo, Paulinho battles with Ivan Rakitic for a spot in midfield and Denis Suarez could start ahead of Gerard Deulofeu in attack.
Lionel Messi is on a mission. A one man wrecking ball, the magical Argentine scored four goals against Eibar, taking his tally to 11 goals in the last five games! Words don't seem to do him justice, take every chance you get to watch Messi in action.
Barcelona have won six consecutive games after their Spanish Super Cup defeat against Real Madrid. They top La Liga and crushed Juventus 3-0 in the Champions League. Last time out Eibar were on the end of a 6-1 thrashing at the Camp Nou, Messi instrumental again with four goals.
Goalkeeper:Stegen
Defenders:Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba
Midfielders:Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta
Forwards:Messi, Luis Suarez, Denis Suarez