League leaders Barcelona will look to strengthen their position at the top of the table when they host a struggling Girona outfit.
Girona will look to bring an end to their six-match winless run in La Liga when they square up against Hansi Flick’s Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday afternoon.
The home team had to return to action quickly after the international break, facing Osasuna in a rescheduled fixture originally set for earlier in the month. Despite limited time to rest and regroup, the Blaugrana managed to get the job done.
Thanks to that win, Barcelona now have a three-point lead at the top of the table as we gear up for the final ten games of the season. The job is far from done, and they cannot afford to relax, with Real Madrid closely following them in second.
The visitors were exceptional last season, but the departure of a few key stars has seen them struggle in the ongoing campaign. Girona are 13th on the points table, and they have not won any of their last six league games.
The only positive for them is that they have avoided defeat in each of their last three league outings. Their last outing was a 1-1 draw against Valencia, and they will certainly have to do much better to stand a chance against Barcelona. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could use
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
Raphinha, who missed out on their last outing because of international commitment, should be back in the starting XI. Meanwhile, Pau Cubarsi is also back fit as the knock he suffered during the international break was a minor one.
The Blaugrana did suffer a fresh blow against Osasuna as Dani Olmo was forced off with a leg injury. He has joined Andreas Christensen, Marc Casado, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal on the sidelines.
Hansi Flick’s team will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Wojciech Szczesny will be in goal. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde should feature as the full-backs, while Ronaldo Araujo and Pau Cubarsi should both return to the starting XI.
As for the midfield unit, Frenkie de Jong will partner with Pedri in the centre of the park. They will not only shield the backline but also look to control the tempo of the game. Gavi will take up the number ten role, while Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will feature on the flanks. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski should make a return to the team, leading the line for Barcelona against Girona.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Girona
The visitors will be without the services of Abel Ruiz, Jhon Solis, and Ivan Martin when Girona lock horns with Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Meanwhile, Donny van de Beek is suspended following a milestone yellow last time out.
Girona will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Paulo Gazzaniga will be in goal. Arnau Martínez and Miguel Gutierrez will be the full-backs for the visitors, while Daley Blind will pair up with Ladislav Krejci in the heart of the defence.
Former Barcelona man Oriol Romeu will take up the role of a defensive midfielder, while Yangel Herrera and Arthur Melo will be in his support in midfield. Viktor Tsygankov and Arnaut Danjuma will provide much-needed width to their attacks. Meanwhile, Cristhian Stuani, who has an impressive record against Barcelona, should spearhead the Girona attack against Barcelona on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Blind, Krejci, Gutierrez; Herrera, Romeu, Arthur; Tsygankov, Stuani, Danjuma
Key Stats
- Cristhian Stuani has found the net four times against Barcelona while representing Girona.
- Barcelona have won each of their last eight league games heading into this fixture.
- Girona have been winless in their last six league games.
- Hansi Flick’s team have been unbeaten in their last 19 games across competitions.
- Girona have squared up against Barcelona just 10 times so far, but they did manage a historic double against the giants last season.
Player to Watch
Gavi
Hansi Flick has been very careful with how he has managed Gavi since his return from injury. The 20-year-old has only racked up just over 1,000 minutes this season. The Spaniard is slowly getting back to his best, and the German manager will hope he delivers and helps them secure the three points against Girona. The youngster is yet to score in La Liga, and he will be eager to get his name on the team sheet in this fixture.
Prediction
Barcelona 2-1 Girona
The quick turnaround won’t make things any easier for Barcelona, but they do have enough quality in their squad to go past a struggling Girona outfit. While it will be a closely fought encounter, the Catalan giants should eventually come out on top. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the home team.
