Next exclamation mark from Girona?
Girona kick off the matchday in La Liga on Friday.
The hosts have recently taken a point from Real Madrid, but their season has been rather average so far. That should now change.
Before the match between Girona and Athletic Bilbao, the betting odds show the visitors as favourites. However, this is not completely clear and therefore not set in stone. But the Basques definitely have the higher individual quality on their side.
Basically, the season is going really well for Athletic Bilbao. In recent weeks, however, there have been some small problems and weaker results, which also have an impact on the Girona vs. Athletic Bilbao tip, as the odds have tended to rise overall on a success for the visitors.
Girona – Statistics & current form
Girona FC with coach Michel were promoted to La Liga in the summer. The goal is therefore obvious: to stay in the league. So far, there have been some decent starts in the first games, but also some problems. The squad is generally relatively talented, players like Miguel Gutierrez or Yangel Herrera have a lot of potential, but there is still a lack of quality across the board.
It is significant that the experienced attacker Christhian Stuani is his team’s best scorer with four goals. Girona slips into a certain dependence on him every now and then. Most recently, the team was able to surprise and earn a 1-1 draw away at the Bernabeu with Real Madrid. That showed that Girona are a force to be reckoned with, provided the opposing team offers something.
After twelve matchdays, the hosts have ten points on their account and are in 17th place in La Liga. Eight of those ten points have come at home, so Girona should not be underestimated at home. They have five points from their last four home games, so Athletic Bilbao should be warned
Girona score a relatively high number of goals
The flip side of such a statistic is also served up immediately, however, because because almost nothing is going right away and home games have ended in draws lately, the hosts have been waiting for a win in La Liga for seven games. The draw against Real Madrid only helps to a limited extent. Defensively, the hosts have not shown any brilliant performances so far, but 20 goals conceded is not a completely catastrophic figure either.
On the other hand, Girona have been able to shine offensively, with 16 goals of their own. Even if Stuani is often the target player on whom hopes are pinned, there are other ways to score goals. No team from the lower half of the table in La Liga scored more often. A game without a goal of their own is rare; Girona have failed to score twice in La Liga so far. However, this team has conceded one goal in every game.
These statistics also have an impact on the rating of this match. Before the match between Girona and Athletic Bilbao, our prediction is that both teams will score goals.
Predicted line-up of Girona:
Gazzaniga – Martinez, Lopez, Bueno, Gutierrez – Romeu, Herrera, Garcia, Couto, Toni Villa – Stuani
Last matches played by Girona:
La Liga
30/10/2022 – Real Madrid 1 – 1 Girona
23/10/2022 – Girona 1 – 1 Osasuna Pamplona
20/10/2022 – Almeria 3 – 2 Girona
15/10/2022 – Girona 1 – 1 Cadiz
08/10/2022 – Atletico Madrid 2 – 1 Girona
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
Year after year, Athletic Club from Bilbao play football that is technically clean and not infrequently brings success. That is the case again this year. A lot has to do with the good youth work, because only local players play for the Basques, but a lot also has to do with coach Ernesto Valverde, who cleverly shapes this team and puts his stamp on it.
A certain compactness on the field is important for Athletic Bilbao, but freedom for the offensive players is also relevant. In recent years, games involving the Basques have rarely been a treat, but this season is definitely happening a bit more. 32 goals were scored in twelve league games by Athletic, 20 of them on the credit side, and the team conceded twelve goals.
The team has mainly won against supposedly “small” opponents. There were few wins against Atletico, Barcelona and Sevilla, while Athletic Bilbao celebrated victories against teams like Cadiz, Almeria and Rayo Vallecano. Most recently, there was a 1-0 against Villarreal, but overall only one win from the last five games.
Athletic Bilbao want two more good games
The visitors have two games left in the league before the break around the 2022 World Cup in Qatar begins. Girona and Real Valladolid are opponents that this team can definitely beat. Currently, the Basques are on 21 points and enter the matchday in sixth place. Their international ambitions would of course be underpinned by two good performances and four to six points.
Despite the more mixed results in recent weeks, Athletic Bilbao look relatively stable in their performances. The defence is working well and the individual class offensively is also impressive. Therefore, in the run-up to the match between Girona and Athletic Bilbao, our value tip is that the visitors will win and can continue to place themselves at the top of the La Liga table.
Predicted line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Unai Simon – de Marcos, Alvarez, Martinez, Berchiche – Vesga, Herrera, Garcia, Nico Williams, Berenguer – Inaki Williams
Last matches played by Athletic Bilbao:
La Liga
31/10/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 1 – 0 FC Villarreal
24/10/2022 – FC Barcelona 4 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
19/10/2022 – Getafe 2 – 2 Athletic Bilbao
16/10/2022 Athletic Bilbao 0 – 1 Atletico Madrid
08/10/2022 – Sevilla FC 1 – 1 Athletic Bilbao
Girona – Athletic Bilbao Direct comparison / H2H record
So far, the two teams have only played each other four times in a direct encounter. Girona have won one of those four matches, while Athletic Bilbao have seen their other three games end in defeat. The last duels took place in 2018/19, with the Basques winning twice.
Girona – Athletic Bilbao Tip
Girona is playing quite a good role in La Liga as a promoted team, has its qualities especially offensively, which are quite presentable for a team from the lower half of the table. The visitors are flexible offensively and in good form despite only one win from five games.
Because the hosts have a penchant for spectacle and the visitors have allowed a little too much in recent weeks, our tip ahead of the Girona vs Athletic Bilbao game is that both teams will score.
