Girona vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips (15 September)

Last season, this Girona team defeated FC Barcelona twice but was insufficient to take 2nd place in the championship at the end of 38 days. Today, the stakes are high for the Blanquivermells who have the opportunity to inflict the first defeat or even a simple draw on Barça who remains flawless for the moment. The season started timidly for Michel and his men who were hampered by Bétis on the first day 1-1, then soundly beaten by Atlético Madrid 3-0 before finally winning their last two matches against Osasuna 4-0 and on the pitch of Sevilla FC before the break 0-2. FC Barcelona, ​​badly beaten last year with not the slightest title in its pocket after a championship double, Spanish Super Cup two years ago , wants to return to its place in the Iberian elite and even in Europe with the new Champions League format.

For the moment, the takeover of Hansi Flick contributes to wonders for the Culers with 4 victories in as many matches, three times with the same score 2-1, on the lawn of Valencia, at home against Athletic Bilbao and on the lawn of Rayo Vallecano. Doubts were beginning to emerge somewhat regarding the Blaugrana's lack of defensive base, conclusion, a 7-0 inflicted on Real Valladolid just before the break and 1st place in the championship at the same time. 

Multiple winning teams,
one goal: to win it all✨ pic.twitter.com/xKZHgnglKF

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 11, 2024

This summer, Girona has been at the center of all attention with players on the shelves of European big names like Dovbyk (AS Roma), Aleix Garcia (Leverkusen), Savio and Couto (City) and Barcelona's Pablo Torre and Eric Garcia returned from their loans with Pau Victor (crack) in their suitcases. In order to fill these departures, the leaders of Girona have bet on Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal, loan), author of 2 goals in 3 matches with the Yellow Submarine who could already form a hellish duo with Abdel Ruiz (Braga), author a crazy banger against Osasuna at home without forgetting the signings of Van de Beek (Manchester United), the crack Asprilla (Watford), Pau Lopez (OM, loan), Bojan Miovski (Aberdeen), Oriol Romeu (FC Barcelona, ​​loan), Bryan Gil (Tottenham, loan), and Alejandro Frances (Zaragoza). For this meeting, Artero and Jastin will likely be unavailable (injured) while Romeu will not be eligible due to the clause in his loan telling him that he cannot play against the club he is loaning him to. As for FC Barcelona, ​​the transfer window was very smooth but let's still note the big recruit, Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig). The European champion with Spain did not need much time to adapt to the Catalan game since he came from La Masia (2 goals in 2 matches). If we exclude the loan returns of Garcia and Pablo Torre and the arrival on loan of Pau Victor, no major maneuvers to report at Barça this summer.

Where the movement has been prolific is at the level of departures with the loans of Romeu, Vitor Roque (Real Bétis), Clément Lenglet (Atlético Madrid) and the transfers of Marc Guiu (Chelsea), Julian Araujo ( Bournemouth), Ilkay Gundogan (Man Cit), and Mikayil Faye (Rennes). Still among the absences, Frenkie de Jong (biggest salary in LaLiga), Gavi, Araujo, Lopez (3 weeks on the floor), Christensen, and Marc Bernal (ruptured cruciate ligaments contracted during the match against Vallecano) will be OUT for this short trip. Note the return to training of loan returner, Ansu Fati (Brighton) who injured his foot during summer preparation. The man in form at the start of the season for the Catalans is not Yamal (1 goal, 4 assists), it is not Lewandowski (4 goals) although both would deserve it, but it is well Raphinha, author of a hat-trick against Valladolid and who, in the game, fully rediscovers the sensations he had in Rennes and Leeds.