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

The Europa League holders have lost their opening two La Liga matches to Valencia and Alaves to sit 18th in the table, while Girona are up in fourth, having picked up four points from their first two games.

Match preview

Sevilla finished down in 12th position in La Liga last season, which proved to be their lowest spot since being relegated at the end of the 1999-2000 campaign, but their season was saved by winning the Europa League, which qualified them for the Champions League this term.

Los Nervionenses faced Manchester City in the UEFA Super Cup on August 16 and impressed for long spells of what proved to be a 1-1 draw, but the La Liga outfit ultimately lost on penalties.

Jose Luis Mendilibar's side have also been beaten in their opening two league games, going down 2-1 at home to Valencia on August 11 before suffering a 4-3 loss to Alaves on Monday night.

Sevilla were actually 2-1 ahead towards the end of the first period but then conceded three times without reply to trail 4-2 before Rafa Mir came up with a consolation in the 97th minute.

Rojiblancos will be determined to return to winning ways in this match, but they have lost each of their last three La Liga games against Girona, including a 2-0 defeat in the reverse game last term.

Girona, meanwhile, claimed 10th in Spain's top flight last season, which proved to be their joint-highest ever spot in La Liga, and they have also made a strong start to this campaign.

Indeed, the White and Reds picked up a welcome point away to Real Sociedad on the opening weekend of the new season before recording a 3-0 victory over Getafe last time out to move onto four points, which has left them in fourth position in the table.

Michel's side have been active this summer in terms of incomings, with Artem Dovbyk proving to be their biggest signing, while Daley Blind and Yangel Herrera are also among those to arrive.

Girona have lost two important players during the current window, though, with Oriol Romeu moving to Barcelona and Ramon Terrats making the switch to Villarreal.

The Catalan side only won three away league games last season, but they will be visiting a Sevilla outfit that had the third-worst home record in Spain's top flight in 2022-23.

Sevilla La Liga form:

Sevilla form (all competitions):

Girona La Liga form:

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Team News

Youssef En-Nesyri has made a strong start to the season for Sevilla, already finding the back of the net on two occasions, but the Morocco international might be left out for this match, as he is currently being heavily linked with a move to English side West Ham United.

Gonzalo Montiel has also now left for Nottingham Forest, while Marcao, Adnan Januzaj and Tanguy Nianzou are currently on the sidelines through injury.

Mir could come into the side as En-Nesyri's replacement on Saturday; Adria Pedrosa is also pushing to start and could potentially feature ahead of Marcos Acuna, who is another player being linked with a departure.

Girona, meanwhile, have a lengthy injury list at this moment in time, with Alexander Callens, Borja Garcia, Santiago Bueno, Ibrahima Kebe, Joel Roca, Ricard Artero and Toni Villa all out.

Cristhian Stuani scored twice in the win over Getafe and is therefore expected to retain his spot at centre-forward despite firm pressure from new signing Dovbyk.

Head coach Michel could ultimately keep faith with the same side that started the three-goal success last time out, which would mean another start for Ivan Martin in midfield.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Pedrosa; Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, Suso, Lamela; Mir

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; Martinez, Blind, D Lopez, Gutierrez; A Garcia; Tsygankov,, Herrera, Martin, Savio; Stuani

We say: Sevilla 1-1 Girona

Sevilla had gained a reputation for being so strong at home but that was simply not the case last season. The Europa League holders are yet to find their feet this term, meanwhile, and we are finding it difficult to predict for them to beat a talented Girona side, ultimately backing a low-scoring draw at Estadio Ramon.

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