Girona‘s battle to stay clear of the La Liga relegation zone will continue on Monday evening, with the Catalan outfit welcoming Mallorca to Montilivi Stadium for a huge match.
The home side are currently 16th in the La Liga table, just three points outside of the relegation zone, while Mallorca are 10th, with Jagoba Arrasate‘s side in the running to secure European football for next season.
Match preview
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Girona have a record of nine wins, eight draws and 16 defeats from their 33 league matches this season, with a total of 35 points leaving them in 16th spot in the table, only three points ahead of 18th-placed Las Palmas.
The Catalan outfit had a stunning 2023-24 campaign, finishing third in the table, which secured Champions League football for this season, but it has been a tough 2024-25 for the White and Reds.
Indeed, Michel‘s side are facing what would be a shock relegation considering their performance level last term, and another defeat on Monday night would leave them extremely vulnerable ahead of their final four league games of the campaign.
Girona will enter the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Leganes, which did at least end a four-game losing run, but they have not been victorious in the league since the start of February.
The White and Reds have picked up 21 points from their 16 home league matches this season, and they will be welcoming a Mallorca side that have 20 points from their 16 games on their travels during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Mallorca, meanwhile, are in the argument for a European finish in Spain’s top flight, with 44 points from 33 matches leaving them in 10th spot in the table, level on points with eighth-placed Osasuna.
There are five Champions League spots on offer in La Liga this season, while there are two in the Europa League and one in Conference League, with eight teams from Spain in line to secure European action for next term.
Mallorca are just two points behind seventh-placed Celta Vigo, so a position in the league stage of next season’s Europa League is certainly achievable, but their recent form in Spain’s top flight has been disappointing.
Indeed, Arrasate’s side have only been victorious in one of their last five league games, which came away to Real Sociedad on April 12, and they have since drawn with Leganes and lost narrowly to Barcelona.
The Pirates have won their last two league matches against Girona, including a 2-1 success earlier this season, but they suffered a 5-3 defeat to the Catalan side in the corresponding game during the 2023-24 campaign.
Team News
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Girona are again expected to be without the services of Abel Ruiz due to a hamstring problem, but the Catalan outfit are otherwise in strong shape, with Ricard Artero and Bryan Gil likely to be fit enough for the bench.
Cristhian Stuani found the back of the net against Leganes last time out, and he is set to continue in the final third of the field, with Portu also in line to feature from the first whistle.
There could be a change in central midfield, though, with Oriol Romeu potentially getting the nod over Arthur.
As for Mallorca, Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi remain on the sidelines through injury, while Takuma Asano, Robert Navarro and Abdon Prats are also expected to miss out this weekend.
However, Dani Rodriguez and Pablo Maffeo will both be back in the squad following suspensions and should start.
Antonio Sanchez and Mateu Morey are set to be the two players to drop out of the starting XI, but there should once again be a spot through the middle for Cyle Larin.
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; D Lopez, Krejci, Blind; A Martinez, Arthur, Herrera. Gutierrez; Tsygankov, Stuani, Portu
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Roman; Maffeo, Valjent, Raillo, Copete, Mojica; D Rodriguez, Mascarell, S Costa, Darder; Larin
We say: Girona 1-1 Mallorca
Another defeat for Girona here would be incredibly damaging to their survival prospects, but we are backing them to claim a point on Monday; Mallorca are missing a number of important players, and their recent form has made it tough to predict an away success.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
