Preview: Girona vs Athletic Bilbao – prediction, staff information, lineups

Athletic Bilbao shall be aiming to offer their top-six hopes a lift after they proceed their La Liga marketing campaign away to Girona on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions are presently tenth within the La Liga table, 5 factors off sixth-placed Celta Vigo, whereas Girona are fifteenth, six factors forward of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Girona will not be out of the equation in the case of the battle for La Liga survival this season, however they’re in a comparatively sturdy place, with 31 factors from 27 matches leaving them in fifteenth, six factors forward of 18th-placed Mallorca.

There are nonetheless 11 matches to play this season, so quite a bit might change, and Girona’s foremost concern this season has been their defence, having conceded 43 instances.

Michel’s staff will enter this match off the again of a 1-1 draw with Levante, and so they have solely really managed to gained one in every of their final seven La Liga matches, which got here at dwelling to the champions Barcelona in the midst of February.

Girona have discovered it tough in entrance of their very own followers this season, solely choosing up 16 factors from 13 matches, which is the third-worst document within the division.

The Catalan outfit have solely ever confronted Athletic on 11 earlier events, and it’s the latter that almost lead the general head-to-head document 5 wins to 4.

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Athletic have been held to a 1-1 draw by Girona within the reverse match earlier this season, whereas they misplaced 2-1 to the Catalan outfit within the corresponding sport in 2024-25.

The Lions have solely really gained as soon as in opposition to Girona on their travels, which got here again in March 2019, so it’s removed from an easy task for Ernesto Valverde‘s facet.

Athletic will enter this match off the again of successive defeats, being knocked out of the Copa del Rey on the semi-final stage by Basque rivals Real Sociedad, earlier than struggling a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in Spain’s prime flight final day trip.

A troublesome season has left Valverde’s facet in tenth spot within the La Liga desk, some 19 factors off fourth-placed Villarreal.

Athletic are solely 5 factors behind sixth-placed Celta Vigo, although, so a European spot this season is definitely achievable regardless of their difficulties.

Girona La Liga kind:

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Athletic Bilbao La Liga kind:

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Athletic Bilbao kind (all competitions):

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Team News

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Girona shall be with out the providers of Juan Carlos, Donny van de Beek, Portu, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Bryan Gil because of damage issues, whereas skilled attacker Cristhian Stuani faces a late health take a look at forward of the match.

Joel Roca and Alejandro Frances each impressed off the bench within the staff’s conflict with Levante final day trip and will now come into the facet.

Vladyslav Vanat discovered it robust within the staff’s final match, however the striker has scored 9 instances in La Liga this season, and he’ll proceed within the remaining third of the sphere.

As for Athletic, Benat Prados, Unai Egiluz and Nico Williams have been dominated out of the match because of damage issues, whereas Maroan Sannadi, Aitor Paredes and Unai Gomez are main doubts for the conflict with Girona.

The guests may even be with out the providers of Alejandro Rego, who picked up a milestone yellow card within the staff’s defeat to Barcelona final day trip.

Athletic boss Valverde is ready to make modifications to the facet that began in opposition to Barcelona, with Yuri Berchiche, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta probably all being launched into the XI.

Girona potential beginning lineup:

Gazzaniga; Rincon, Frances, Blind, Martinez; Witsel, Beltran; Tsygankov, Lemar, Roca; Vanat

Athletic Bilbao potential beginning lineup:

Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; I Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Guruzeta

We say: Girona 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

There has solely been two attracts between these two sides all through historical past, however a kind of got here earlier this season, and we’re predicting one other stalemate between Girona and Athletic this weekend.

For information evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.