Girona's battle to remain in Spain's top flight will continue on Tuesday evening, when they make the trip to basement side Real Valladolid.
The visitors are currently 15th in the La Liga table, four points outside of the relegation zone with three games left, while Real Valladolid will play in the Segunda Division next season after a disastrous campaign.
Match preview
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Real Valladolid suffered a ninth straight La Liga defeat on Saturday, going down 2-1 to Mallorca, and it is now just 16 points from their 35 league matches this season, which has left them rooted to the bottom of the division.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been an incredibly difficult campaign for the club, who have won four, drawn four and lost 27 of their 35 games in Spain's top flight during the 2024-25 campaign.
Real Valladolid are comfortably the lowest goalscorers in the division, only finding the back of the net on 26 occasions, while they have incredibly conceded 85 times, with their defensive record staggering.
Alvaro Rubio's side will take on Alaves and Leganes in their final two league games of the season, so the relegated outfit will have a huge say in terms of which teams join them in the Segunda Division next term.
The White and Violets suffered a 3-0 defeat to Girona in the reverse match earlier this season, but they actually recorded a 1-0 victory over the Catalan side when the pair last locked horns at Jose Zorrilla Stadium in April 2023.
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Girona, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Villarreal, and the Catalan outfit are not yet out of the woods when it comes to the relegation battle in the final stages of the season.
Indeed, Michel's side are 15th, boasting 38 points from 35 matches, which has left them four points ahead of 18th-placed Leganes, and there is still a set of results which would see them relegated from the top flight.
Girona enjoyed a historic 2023-24 campaign, finishing third in La Liga, but it has been much more difficult this season, with the team finding it difficult to balance domestic and European football.
The White and Reds just need to navigate their way through the final stages of this season before looking ahead to an important transfer window, as a number of players could both leave and arrive ahead of next term.
Girona have only been victorious in three of their 17 away league matches this season, but Real Valladolid only have three home league successes to their name during what has been a very testing campaign for the club.
Team News
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Real Valladolid will welcome key forward Mamadou Sylla back into their squad, as he served his domestic suspension last time out.
David Torres, Javi Sanchez and Kenedy are all doubts, but the home side did not pick up any fresh concerns in their narrow defeat to Mallorca.
Head coach Rubio will have taken plenty of positives from the contest, so it would not be a surprise if the division's basement side were unchanged for their clash with Girona, aside from Sylla's return in attack.
As for the visitors, Miguel Gutierrez, who is currently being linked with a return to Real Madrid, remains a doubt with an ankle issue, while Gabriel Misehouy and Donny van de Beek may also again miss out.
Ricard Artero and Bryan Gil will definitely be unavailable for selection, but the Catalan side did not pick up any fresh concerns during their clash with Villarreal last time out.
There could be just the one change from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against the Yellow Submarine, with Yaser Asprilla potentially being introduced in a bid to boost the attack.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; Perez, Candela, Ozkacar, Aznou; Chuky, Nikitscher, Comert, Amallah, Moro; Sylla
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; A Martinez, D Lopez, Krejci, Blind; Martin, Arthur, Herrera; Asprilla, Stuani, Portu
We say: Real Valladolid 1-2 Girona
Real Valladolid's last couple of performances have been much better, but they are such a difficult side to back due to their struggles this season, and we fancy Girona to collect a gigantic three points in their battle to stay above the relegation zone.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
