Barcelona will look to rebound from their crushing Copa del Rey defeat to Real Madrid when they return to La Liga action against Girona on Monday night.
Team Form
Barcelona
Barcelona currently holds a commanding 12-point lead over their arch-rivals Real Madrid. With just a handful of games left, the Blaugrana are in pole position to clinch their first domestic league title since 2019-20.
However, Barcelona’s season hasn’t been without its ups and downs. Despite a promising start under new manager Xavi, the team suffered early exits from the Champions League and Europa League, leaving La Liga as their only chance to salvage silverware this season.
In the last-four clash of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona took a 1-0 lead into the second leg, but a shocking 4-0 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid at home dashed their hopes of lifting the cup.
That said, Barcelona has shown remarkable consistency on home turf, boasting the best home record this season. The team has picked up an impressive 35 points from 13 matches played at Camp Nou, scoring 27 goals and conceding just twice. This season, such a strong home form has been a key factor in the Blaugrana’s title charge.
Barcelona La Liga Form: L W W W W
Girona
So far this season, the White and Reds have played 27 games, winning nine, drawing seven, and losing 11. They currently occupy the 11th position on the table with 34 points, which puts them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Interestingly, they are just four points behind seventh-placed Osasuna. In their last game, Girona defeated Espanyol 2-1, thanks to Cristhian Stuani’s late penalty.
Girona FC made a successful comeback to La Liga after securing promotion through last season’s Segunda Division playoffs. For the team, a position higher than 18th in the top division would be considered a successful campaign.
Girona La Liga Form: W L L D W
Squad Report
Barcelona
Barcelona will again have to do without the services of some key players in their upcoming game against Girona.
Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, Andreas Christensen, and Frenkie de Jong are all set to miss the match.
Girona
Ahead of their upcoming clash against Barcelona, Girona has received some positive news as key midfielder Aleix Garcia has returned to training and is expected to feature in the starting lineup.
However, due to injury, Girona will need the services of several key players. Borja Garcia, Joel Roca, Alexander Callens, Yangel Herrera, and Ibrahima Kebe are all expected to miss out on the game.
Additionally, Reinier is suspended and will not be able to take part in the match.
Barcelona’s expected starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Alonso, Alba; Roberto, Busquets, Gavi; Fati, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Girona’s expected starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Bueno, D Lopez, J Hernandez; Romeu, A Garcia, Martin; Tsygankov, Castellanos, Villa
Head to Head
FC Barcelona has dominated Girona, having won all five of their previous meetings. Girona has yet to secure a victory against Barcelona.
Date, Time & Venue
Date: Monday, April 10
Time: 08:00 pm, BST
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona
Prediction
Barcelona will likely be highly motivated and eager to bounce back after their loss to Real Madrid, which could make them a tough opponent for Girona. The Blaugrana will be determined to perform well and secure a victory in front of their home fans.
