Second-placed Girona will look to make it four wins in a row when they hit the road to square up against Deportivo Alaves.
Girona and Deportivo Alaves have both won each of their last three games in the league heading into this fixture. They will be looking to continue their streak but won’t find it easy. The reverse fixture between the two ended 3-0 in favour of the visitors, and they will be eager to do a double here.
Alaves are currently 11th in the points table, with 41 points in their 34 outings. They do not really have anything to worry about heading into this fixture and are expected to look at the final fours games as an opportunity to push higher up the table. It has been a dream return to the top flight for Alaves, who gained promotion through playoffs.
They are heading into this one on the back of a 1-0 win over Valencia. While it was an equally contested game, Alaves got the all-important goal and secured all three points. Their recent performances will give them the confidence needed to try and avenge the defeat they suffered in the reverse fixture.
Girona have accumulated 74 points in their 34 outings. They might have failed to compete with Real Madrid for the league title but have already achieved a lot more than anyone had expected from them before the start of the season.
The White and Reds are all set to feature in the UEFA Champions League next season, and the objective now is to ensure they finish second above Barcelona, who are a point behind them. They defeated the Catalan giants 4-2 in their last outing and will be confident about their chances in this one. Meanwhile, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Deportivo Alaves
The home team will be without the services of Andoni Gorosabel, Ruben Duarte and Aleksandar Sedlar. Meanwhile, Samu Omorodion is suspended for this one following a milestone yellow last time out.
Alaves will go ahead with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Antonio Sivera will be in goal. Rafa Marin and Javi Lopez will be the full-backs for the home team, while Nahuel Tenaglia and Abdel Abqar will feature in the heart of the defence.
Carlos Benavídez and Antonio Blanco will form the double pivot in midfield. They will look to shield the backline and distribute the ball to their attacking players. Carlos Vicente and Giuliano Simeone will feature out wide on the flanks. They will provide width to their attacks, while Jon Guridi will feature as the attacking midfielder in behind striker Kike García.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sivera; Marin, Abqar, Tenaglia, Javi Lopez; Benavidez, Blanco; Vicente, Guridi, Simeone; Kike Garcia
Girona
The visitors will be without the services of Joel Roca and Ricard Artero. Meanwhile, the availability of Borja Garcia, Cristhian Stuani and Savio is a major doubt.
Girona will also go ahead with the 4-2-3-1 formation. Paulo Gazzaniga will be in goal for the away team. Eric Garcia and Miguel Gutierrez will take charge as full-backs for them, while David Lopez and Daley Blind will feature in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Yangel Herrera should pair up with Aleix Garcia. They will look to control the tempo and bring in their in-form forwards into the game. Viktor Tsyhankov and Portu will provide the width to their attacks, while Ivan Martin will look to create goal-scoring chances for the top scorer of La Liga this season, Artem Dovbyk.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Eric Garcia, D Lopez, Blind, Gutierrez; Herrera, A Garcia; Tsyhankov, Martin, Portu; Dovbyk
Key Stats
- Girona’s Artem Dovbyk is the top scorer in La Liga with 20 goals to his name.
- Alaves and Girona are both heading into this one on the back of three consecutive wins.
- Girona have the third-best away record in the league having picked up 30 points from their 17 away games.
- Alaves haven’t been beaten on home soil since the end of March.
- Girona will look for a league double having won the reverse fixture 3-0.
Player to Watch
Artem Dovbyk
Ukrainian international Artem Dovbyk is leading the goal-scoring charts in La Liga in his very first season at the club. The 26-year-old striker, who joined Girona last summer, has scored 20 goals and also has six assists in his 32 league outings. Dovbyk will be eager to add to his tally in the final four games as he looks to secure the Pichichi trophy.
Prediction
Deportivo Alaves 1-3 Girona
Both teams are heading into this fixture on the back of three consecutive wins in the league, and it promises to be an exciting clash. While Alaves will surely challenge the second-placed Girona, they might not have enough in their tanks to go past them.
With the visitors heading into this one on the back of a win over Barcelona, they will be quite confident of getting a positive result. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the White and Reds.
