Athletic Club vs Girona predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as the visitors look to build on a fine six-goal win last time out.
| Date | Sunday 26th February 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 14:00 (CET) |
| Stadium | San Mames |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Athletic Club vs Girona Preview
Sunday’s action in LaLiga gets underway in Bilbao where Girona are hoping to take something from their trip to San Mames. The visitors should travel with confidence after hitting six last time out against Almeria.
Athletic scored four in their most recent home game against Cadiz though and will be favourites with home advantage. Ernesto Valverde will have one eye on Wednesday’s Copa del Rey Semi-Final 1st Leg against Osasuna. He has already tinkered with his team selection in anticipation of that match with cup starter Julen Agirrezabala preferred to Unai Simon in goal last weekend. It’ll be interesting to see whether that continues here or whether the Spanish international returns.
There are two potential routes into Europe for Athletic although with one of Barcelona and Real Madrid certain to be in the Copa del Rey Final, the league is still most likely going to offer the best path. They need to be winning games like this if they want to get the better of the likes of Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal in the battle for the final European positions.
Only 22% of Girona’s points this season have come away from Montilivi. While they have at times performed well in away games, their only win on the road came at rock bottom Elche and they’ve usually fallen short against better opponents. They were really poor in their last away game, losing 2-0 at Cadiz, but it’s safe to say that Michel got the reaction he’d have been looking for last time out.
Girona tore into Almeria from the first whistle with a number of standout individual displays in the 6-2 win. That levelled the highest goal tally in a LaLiga game this season, with the previous mark also set at Montilivi when Girona lost 5-3 to Real Sociedad earlier in the campaign. They have certainly been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the Spanish top flight in 2022/23.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Athletic Club
| INJURED | Herrera |
| DOUBTFUL | Inigo Martinez, Capa |
| BANNED | Vivian |
Possible XI: Simon – Yuri, Vivian, Paredes, De Marcos – Vesga, Muniain, Sancet – Berenguer, I. Williams, N. Williams (4-3-3)
Coach: Ernesto Valverde
Girona
| INJURED | Kebe, Couto, Herrera |
| DOUBTFUL | Valery |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Juanpe, Bueno, Arnau – Ivan Martin, Romeu, Aleix Garcia – Riquelme, Castellanos, Tsygankov (4-3-3)
Coach: Michel
Score Prediction: Athletic Club 3-2 Girona
This should be a good one. Girona are a positive team and they won’t just park the bus and will fancy they can score goals with Athletic likely to be missing two centre-backs again due to Inigo Martinez’s injury and Dani Vivian’s suspension. However Athletic are strong at home and have been creating plenty of chances and Valverde’s side look the more likely victors.
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