The Stats Zone
UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League English Premier League Spanish Primera French Ligue 1 German Bundesliga Italian Serie A Saudi Pro League Australian A-League Indian Super League American MLS English Championship English League One FA Cup World Cup Qualifiers Other Internationals AFCON Qualifying

Girona vs Espanyol Preview: Team News & Prediction

by Alex Lawes · November 20 2024, 15:18
Girona vs Espanyol Preview: Team News & Prediction

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

We have the lesser of three Catalan derbies this weekend with Girona taking on Espanyol in Catalonia this weekend as Michel’s hosts look to reignite their form against Manolo Gonzalez’ underwhelming visitors. 

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 23rd November, 2024: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am

How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Girona vs Espanyol may be televised on one of their affiliated channels

How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+

Girona Preview: Needing a spark in Girona

As a member of the City Football Group, Girona lose key players nearly every summer and that happened again this summer with the departures of Aleix Garcia, Savio and Artem Dovbyk after they finished third in La Liga and qualified for the UEFA Champions League in just their fifth season ever in the top-flight.

The Catalans, coached by Michel, have, predictably, started the season slowly with five victories, three draws and five defeats in their opening 13 matches of the campaign. Girona come into this one on the back of a back-to-back victories before the international break, though, with wins against Getafe and Leganes. 

Espanyol Preview: Tricky situation for Espanyol

Following promotion to the top-flight last season, Espanyol begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in the bottom three and the relegation places after playing 12 games of the 2024/25 La Liga season. They have former B team coach Manolo Gonzalez at the helm after Luis Garcia departed to be Tintin Marquez’ assistant coach with the Qatari national side. 

Girona Team News: Injury crisis

Girona are dealing with an injury crisis in La Liga at the moment with the likes of Ladislav Krejci, Yangel Herrera, Yaser Asprilla and Arnaut Danjuma all sidelined for the hosts.

The home team also have a couple of key attacking injury doubts due to injuries to both Ukraine international Viktor Tsygankov and former Barcelona striker Abel Ruiz. 

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Paolo Gazzaniga; Arnau Martinez, Juanpe, David Lopez, Blind; Selvi, Oriol Romeu; Bryan Gil, Van de Beek, Miguel Gutierrez; Miovski

Unavailable: Ricard Artero (Injured), Jhon Solis (Injured), Krejci (Injured), Alejandro Frances (Injured), Yangel Herrera (Injured), Danjuma (Injured), Misehouy (Injured), Yaser Asprilla (Injured), Portu (Injured)

Questionable: Tsygankov (Injured), Abel Ruiz (Injured)

Espanyol Team News: Several injuries

Summer signing from Roma Marash Kumbulla is unavailable with a leg injury this weekend alongside the likes of both Pol Lozano and Jose Gragera.

Experienced central midfielder Edu Exposito is unavailable due to an ACL injury whilst experienced defender Fernando Calero is an injury doubt, too. 

Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Joan Garcia; El Hilali, Smith, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Rafel Bauza; Alvaro Tejero, Kral, Alvaro Aguado, Jofre Carreras; Javi Puado

Unavailable: Pol Lozano (Injured), Kumbulla (Injured), Jose Gragera (Injured), Edu Exposito (Injured)

Questionable: Fernando Calero (Injured)

Girona vs Espanyol Prediction

This Catalan derby is between two sides that, for different reasons, will be frustrated with signs of encouragement with regards to the start of the 2024/25 La Liga season. Girona have an injury crisis but Espanyol’s issues in the back-line are far more pressing and, as a result, Girona will be expected to get a routine victory in this one, especially with their home advantage, as they look to kick on again.

Girona vs Espanyol Tip: Girona to win

Upcoming Events
Football
Chelsea vs Djurgarden
Pinned Event
Football
Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham
Pinned Event
Football
Man Utd vs Athletic Bilbao
Pinned Event
Football
Universidad de Chile vs Estudiantes
Football
Central Cordoba vs Flamengo
Football
Cerro Porteno vs Palmeiras
Football
Sporting Cristal vs Bolivar
Football
Fiorentina vs Real Betis
Football
Bristol City vs Sheffield Utd
Football
Talleres de Cordoba vs Libertad
Football
Velez Sarsfield vs Olimpia
Football
Atletico Nacional vs Internacional
Football
Barcelona vs River Plate
Football
Universitario vs Independiente del Valle
Football
Western United vs Adelaide United
Football
Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim
Football
AC Milan vs Bologna
Football
Las Palmas vs Rayo Vallecano
Football
Coventry vs Sunderland
Football
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory
Football
Valencia vs Getafe
Football
Como vs Cagliari
Football
Bochum vs Mainz
Football
Holstein Kiel vs Freiburg
Football
Union Berlin vs Heidenheim
Football
Werder Bremen vs RB Leipzig
Football
Wolves vs Brighton
Football
Ipswich vs Brentford
Football
Fulham vs Everton
Football
Southampton vs Man City
Football
Celta Vigo vs Sevilla
Football
Lazio vs Juventus
Football
Al Kholood vs Al Ettifaq
Football
Al Wehda vs Al Fateh
Football
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Monchengladbach
Football
Mallorca vs Real Valladolid
Football
Girona vs Villarreal
Football
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Football
Al Khaleej vs Al Riyadh
Football
Empoli vs Parma
Football
Le Havre vs Marseille
Football
Montpellier vs Paris Saint-Germain
Football
Monaco vs Lyon
Football
Rennes vs Nice
Football
Reims vs Saint-Etienne
Football
Brest vs Lille
Football
Toulouse vs Lens
Football
Angers vs Strasbourg
Football
Auxerre vs Nantes
Football
Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad
Football
Minnesota United vs Inter Miami
Football
Udinese vs Monza
Football
Leganes vs Espanyol
Football
Hellas Verona
Football
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester
Football
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Football
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Football
Torino vs Inter Milan
Football
Al Shabab vs Al Ahli
Football
Damak vs Al Raed
Football
Al Taawon vs Al Qadsiah
Football
Al Ittihad vs Al Fayha
Football
Napoli vs Genoa
Football
Al Hilal vs Al Orubah
Football
Al Okhdood vs Al Nassr
Football Latest