Preview: Girona vs. Almeria - prediction, team news, lineups

Girona, who are 11th in the La Liga table, will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 loss to Cadiz, while 15th-placed Almeria suffered a 3-2 defeat to Real Betis in their last match.

Match preview

Girona returned to La Liga for the 2022-23 campaign through last season's Segunda Division playoffs, so any position above 18th in the top flight this term would be considered a huge success.

The White and Reds are currently up in 11th position in the table, having picked up 24 points from their opening 21 games of the season courtesy of a record of six wins, six draws and nine defeats.

However, they are only four points ahead of the relegation zone, so the picture could change completely with a couple of bad results in quick succession, and Girona's recent form has been disappointing.

Indeed, Michel's side have lost three of their last four in the league, including a 2-0 reverse to Cadiz last Friday, with Gonzalo Escalante and Sergi Guardiola on the scoresheet for the home team.

Girona will be pleased to be back on home soil for this match, as they have been in strong form in front of their own supporters this season, picking up 18 points from 11 matches, while Almeria have the second-worst away record in the division this term, collecting only three points from 10 games.

Almeria's home form has also been strong, picking up 19 points from 11 matches, which is the fifth-best record in the division, but as mentioned above, it has been a real struggle on their travels.

Rubi's side have lost their last two in La Liga against Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis, with the latter beating them 3-2 last weekend; Almeria twice came from behind to level against the Seville outfit, but Andres Guardado's 70th-minute effort secured all three points for the visitors.

La Union have slipped into 15th position in the table, boasting 22 points from their 21 matches, which has left them just two points outside of the relegation zone heading into the next set of fixtures.

Only Elche (13) at the bottom have lost more La Liga games than Almeria (11) this term, and there is no downplaying the importance of this match considering that their next two are against Barcelona and Villarreal.

UDA recorded a 3-2 win over Girona in the reverse match earlier this season, and they have actually been victorious in three of their last four league games with Friday's opponents.

Girona La Liga form:

D

W

L

L

W

L

Almeria La Liga form:

L

D

D

W

L

L

Team News

Girona's squad will be boosted by the return of Cristhian Stuani, who is available again following a suspension, but the home team still have a number of injury concerns.

Yan Couto, Ibrahima Kebe, Valery and Reinier remain on the sidelines, while Yangel Herrera and David Lopez are also major doubts for the Catalan side ahead of the contest.

Head coach Michel is expected to make changes to the side that started the loss to Cadiz, with Stuani, Rodrigo Riquelme and Alexander Callens all pushing to start.

As for Almeria, Leo Baptistao and Lucas Robertone will both return from the suspensions that forced them to sit out the defeat to Real Betis last time out.

Both Baptistao and Robertone are expected to be back in the starting XI for this match, while Chumi is expected to come in for Rodrigo Ely, who was forced off early in the team's last game.

El Bilal Toure has scored four league goals this season but is likely to be on the bench once again, with Luis Suarez set to continue at the tip of the attack for the visitors.

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Bueno, Callens, Gutierrez; Martin, A Garcia, Romeu, Riquelme; Stuani, Castellanos

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Pozo, Chumi, Babic, Akieme; Robertone, Costa; Baptistao, Melero, Portillo; Suarez

We say: Girona 2-1 Almeria

Girona have been strong at home this season, collecting 18 points from 11 matches, and they will be welcoming an Almeria side who have lost seven of their 10 games on their travels. It would not be a surprise to see a draw here, but we just have a feeling that Girona will navigate their way to an important three points.

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