Gironavs.Osasuna

Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start, having taken four points from their first two matches.

Match preview

Girona were the surprise package of the 2023-24 La Liga season, collecting 81 points from 38 matches to finish in third place and secure European qualification for the first time in their history.

While they are now looking forward to competing in the Champions League, Girona will find it tough to replicate the lofty heights of last season, especially as they have seen a number of key players depart over the summer, including Savinho, Aleix Garcia, Yan Couto and Artem Dovbyk.

The Catalan side have made an effort to replace those that have departed, having made 10 additions during the course of the transfer window, but those signings have been unable to get Girona off to a fast start in La Liga.

Michel's side began the campaign with a 1-1 away draw against Real Betis, before they slumped to a heavy 3-0 defeat in Sunday's clash with Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.

The Blanquivermells will attempt to produce a positive response in their first home game of the season, with the hosts looking to produce the sort of performance that saw them win 15 of their 19 home league games last term (D2, L2).

Meanwhile, Osasuna are competing in a La Liga campaign without Jagoba Arrasate at the helm for the first time since suffering relegation in 2016-17.

Vicente Moreno has been given the tough job of replacing the popular Arrasate, and he would have been fully aware of the importance of making a positive start following his brief spell at Almeria, where has was sacked after the first seven games of last season.

Moreno has already managed to outperform his disappointing Almeria tenure, having seen his Osasuna side draw with Leganes before beating Arrasate's Mallorca at the weekend.

Ruben Garcia's 55th-minute strike proved enough to guide Osasuna to a 1-0 win over Mallorca, ensuring they have now gone six league games without defeat since losing to Real Betis on May 5.

After beginning his tenure with back-to-back home games, Moreno is now preparing to take charge of his first away match as Osasuna boss, and he will be hoping to guide Los Rojillos to their first competitive away win over Girona since June 2016.

Girona La Liga form:

D

L

Osasuna La Liga form:

D

W

Team News

Girona remain without the services of Ricard Artero and Jastin due to ankle and shoulder problems, while Valery is a doubt after sitting out the first two matches due to illness.

Yaser Asprilla recently completed €24m (£20.2m) from Watford and is set to feature in the matchday squad for Thursday's contest, although he may have to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Bojan Miovski could be presented with his first La Liga start after he came off the bench to make his Girona debut in Sunday's defeat to Atleti.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without defender Ruben Pena and winger Kike Barja due to muscle and knee injuries respectively.

Midfielder Iker Munoz has also been ruled out of Thursday's contest, having undergone an operation on a foot injury he sustained in his brief substitute appearance against Mallorca.

Moreno could be tempted to make a few changes to freshen up his side, with Juan Cruz, Pablo Ibanez and Moi Gomez among those who could be considered for starting spots.

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; Martinez, Lopez, Blind, Gutierrez; Herrera, Romeu, Martin; Tsygankov, Portu, Miovski

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Herrera; Areso, Catena, Herrando, Cruz; Torro, Ibanez; Gomez, Oroz, Zaragoza; Budimir

We say: Girona 2-1 Osasuna

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