Girona vs Real Valladolid Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Girona are still looking to push on for UEFA qualification once again this season despite some issues during this campaign as they face a battling and re-energised Real Valladolid side.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 20th December, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Girona vs Real Valladolid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Girona Preview: Girona’s genius
Girona finished third in their fifth ever La Liga campaign last season before the departures of several key players but the City Football Group owned Catalans have the benefit of the genius of their coach, Michel, getting them to punch above their weight once again this season.
Simply challenging for a top seven finish may seem underwhelming after last season but it really shouldn’t be seen like that. They come into this one on the back of some poor form, though, and were beaten 2-1 by Real Mallorca in the Balearic Islands last weekend.
Real Valladolid Preview: Fighting Valladolid
Real Valladolid sacked Uruguayan coach Paulo Pezzolano a couple of weeks ago and was eventually replaced by former Mexico boss Diego Cocca. Cocca’s first game in charge saw Valladolid climb off the bottom-of-the-table with a dramatic victory last weekend.
Hosting fellow strugglers Valencia at Estadio Jose Zorrilla last weekend, Valladolid scored early via Anuar in the 20th minute. They then managed to cling on to three points to leapfrog the Valencians in the bottom three, despite Juanmi Latasa’s 78th minute red card.
Girona Team News: Oriol Romeu suspension
Former Southampton defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu is missing through suspension for this weekend. Key man Yangel Herrera is also still out injured with a calf issue alongside summer signing Bojan Miovski and Ukraine international attacking midfielder Viktor Tsygankov.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Paulo Gazzaniga; Juanpe, David Lopez, Blind; Bryan Gil, Arnau Martinez, Ivan Martin, Van de Beek, Miguel Gutierrez; Yaser Asprilla, Danjuma
Unavailable: Yangel Herrera (Injured), Oriol Romeu (Suspended), Tsygankov (Injured), Miovski (Injured)
Questionable: Jastin Garcia (Injured)
Real Valladolid Team News: Couple of suspensions
As mentioned, Juanmi Latasa was sent off last weekend so he is now unavailable due to suspension alongside midfielder Kike Perez. They also have some key injury doubts for this one such as Selim Amallah, Ivan Sanchez and Raul Moro.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hein; Lucas Perez, Juma Bah, Javi Sanchez, Rosa; Juric, Victor Meseguer; Anuar, Darwin Machis, Raul Moro; Marcos Andre
Unavailable: Kike Perez (Suspended), Sylla (Injured), Juanmi Latasa (Suspended)
Questionable: Amallah (Injured), Ivan Sanchez (Injured), Raul Moro (Injured)
Girona vs Real Valladolid Prediction
Whether they are marauding up the table, chaotically flying up and down or even a title challenger, Girona have been brilliant to watch in recent seasons. It has been the case once again in this campaign with their 17 matches consisting of 48 goals in La Liga. Valladolid will set up in a counter-attacking manner under Cocca this weekend and the probable inclusion of Darwin Machis will mean they could exploit the space Girona leave behind for what could end up being quite a fun game for the neutral in Catalonia.
Girona vs Real Valladolid Tip: Over 2.5 goals
