Girona are heading into the match on the back of a 2-2 draw away to fourth-placed Real Sociedad last weekend, while the Yellow Submarine thrashed Athletic Club 5-1.
Two teams looking to enhance their European dreams will be up against each other on Saturday afternoon as Girona host Villarreal in a La Liga fixture at Montilivi. The hosts are currently occupying seventh spot in the Spanish top flight standings, having collected 48 points from 34 games, just a solitary point clear of eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao and nine adrift of fifth-placed Villarreal. Meanwhile, Girona are heading into the match on the back of a 2-2 draw away to fourth-placed Real Sociedad last weekend, while the Yellow Submarine thrashed Athletic Club 5-1.
Mentalitzats pel partit de demà ! 🙌
🔜 #GironaVillarreal pic.twitter.com/zZOar0CTcu— Girona FC (@GironaFC) May 19, 2023
Girona, who earned promotion to the top tier of Spanish football via Segunda Division playoffs last season, are now dreaming of qualifying for European competition. Gironistes have lost only one of their last nine outings, while recording five wins in the Period. Since the narrow 1-0 loss to Real Valladolid almost a month ago, the White and Reds have won three back-to-back matches against Real Madrid (4-2), Sevilla (2-0) and Mallorca (2-1), before sharing the spoils away to Real Sociedad last Saturday. Michel’s side twice came from behind to earn a point against White Blue last time out, thanks to first half goals from Yan Couto and Christhian Stuani. Meanwhile, Girona holds the fifth best home-record in the top flight having picked up 33 points from 17 league-matches at Montilivi this season.
Villarreal, on the other hand, are also unbeaten in their last four games, taking ten points in the process. Yellow Submarine secured their 17th league-win of the season against Athletic Bilbao last Saturday thanks to braces from both Alex Baena and Nicolas Jackson and an Aitor Paredes own goal. Quique Setien’s men are in pole position to qualify for the group stages of next season’s Europa League, but they will still be looking to make a late dash for the Champions League places, as they are five points adrift of the top four with four games remaining. Meanwhile, Villarreal’s away-form in the league hasn’t been very great this season, having taken just 22 points from a possible 51 so far.
Girona probable starting lineup: Gazzaniga, Martinez, Bueno, Juanpe, Hernandez, Couto, Tsygankov, Lopez, Martin, Riquelme, Stuani
Villarreal probable starting lineup: Reina, Foyth, Mandi, Cuenca, Pedraza, Baena, Capoue, Lo Celso, Chukwueze, Pino, Jackson
Girona
Opponents | Score |
Real Sociedad | 2-2 (D) |
Mallorca | 2-1 (W) |
Sevilla | 0-2 (W) |
Real Madrid | 4-2 (W) |
Valladolid | 1-0 (L) |
Villarreal
Opponents | Score |
Athletic Bilbao | 5-1 (W) |
Valencia | 1-1 (D) |
Celta Vigo | 3-1 (W) |
Espanyol | 4-2 (W) |
Sevilla | 2-1 (L) |
Last 5 match-results | Score |
Villarreal beat Girona | 1-0 |
Villarreal beat Girona | 0-1 |
Villarreal beat Girona | 0-3 |
Villarreal beat Girona | 0-1 |
Girona beat Villarreal | 0-1 |
The La Liga match between Girona and Villarreal will take place at Montilivi on Saturday at 5:30 pm IST.
Girona vs Villarreal | Key Details |
Date | May 20 |
Venue | Montilivi |
Kickoff time in Spain | 2:00 pm |
Kickoff time in India | 5:30 pm |
Football fans in India can live stream the match through Jio TV. Meanwhile, those in Spain can catch the live action via Movistar + and Movistar La Liga.
More football news:
Premier League: What scenarios can help Manchester City win league title this weekend?
Champions League: What went wrong for Real Madrid in semi-final second leg against Manchester City?
Prabir Das: Bengaluru FC right-back reportedly set to join arch rivals Kerala Blasters FC