This time around, with the hosts seeking the first points of this Champions League campaign, Girona welcomes Slovan Bratislava to Estadi Montilivi on Tuesday night. Having lost the opening two matches of their Champions League campaign, Girona will seek success in front of their home support. Slovan Bratislava comes into this match in Catalonia having leaked several goals in the Champions League so far this season and with a run of inconsistent domestic form.
Girona vs Slovan Bratislava: Preview
The Champions League start for Girona could hardly be more rocky, with two narrow defeats meaning there are no points as yet. Firstly, defeat in their first-ever European game was 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain via a Paulo Gazzaniga own goal, then came a 3-2 defeat to Feyenoord in a dramatic but ultimately disappointing home game.
Things have not been easy for Slovan Bratislava on its path to Europe. Having through qualified qualification, the business end of the group-stage matches has been anything but forgiving. A 5-1 loss to Celtic was followed up by a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City. Its defensive frailties, coupled with creating very little mean Slovan, are yet to leave a mark in the competition. They are still atop the Slovak First League, though, and will be looking to translate that into this match.
Team News
Girona will have to face more and more injured players in this important match. They are without a few of their most valuable players, including Viktor Tsygankov, Daley Blind, Oriol Romeu, and summer signing Yaser Asprilla. Pau Lopez and Bryan Gil are ruled out too, with very few options available for the manager, Michel, especially up front. Abel Ruiz might come back to fitness to play an important role. Girona will want Bojan Miovski to lead the charge upfront, supported in an attack by Donny van de Beek and Arnaut Danjuma.
Slovan Bratislava is equally sweating over team injuries, especially influential playmaker Juraj Kucka, who is yet to get back to full capacity after his knee operation. The Slovaks are expecting creativity to flow through Croatian star Marko Tolic, while the attack is expected to be spearheaded by David Strelec. Manager Vladimir Weiss Jr. will thus look to his back four marshaled by Georgia skipper Guram Kashia and former Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Wimmer to thwart any attack from Girona.
Head-to-Head
The two teams have never met before, which makes it even more interesting.
Possible Starting XI
Girona: Paulo Gazzaniga; Arnau Martinez, David Lopez, Ladislav Krejci; Miguel Gutierrez, Yangel Herrera, Alex Martin, Fabian Solis; Donny van de Beek, Arnaut Danjuma, Abel Ruiz
Slovan Bratislava: Martin Takac, Vernon De Marco Blackman, Guram Kashia, Kevin Wimmer, Sharani Zuberu, Filip Bajric, Uros Savvidis, Tigran Barseghyan, Marko Tolic, Vladimir Weiss Jr., David Strelec –
Girona vs Slovan Bratislava: Prediction
Slovan Bratislava should be defeated at their opponent’s home field despite Girona’s harrowing injury list. Defensive fragility has always created an ominous atmosphere regarding the Catalan outfit during the first phase of the season, but the attacking units led by Miovski and inspired by creative midfielders like van de Beek and Danjuma should find their way past the Slovan defense. Slovan Bratislava has looked pretty ragged in their Champions League campaign so far, particularly at the back, as they have leaked nine goals in the first two matches.
Girona has the home advantage and better attacking options; thus, they should win this match, though the team has been going through a lean phase as of late. Slovan Bratislava might give a good fight, but their frailties in defense could finally give Girona their first Champions League win.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM CEST
Venue: Estadi Montilivi, Girona, Spain.
American viewers can catch the game on the streaming service Paramount+. The New York, NY-headquartered Paramount Global, parent company of Paramount+, focuses on soccer.
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