Clear-cut affair for the Blaugrana?
FC Barcelona have played seven competitive games so far in the 2023 calendar year. The Blaugrana have won all seven games and continue to lead the table in La Liga after winning the Supercopa de Espana overall.
Now they are looking for their eighth win in the eighth game of the new year in the Catalan derby at Girona FC. In principle, betting on an away win for the Blaugrana in the Girona vs. Barcelona match is also a good bet.
Not only have the Blanquivermells not yet won any of their five competitive matches against FC Barcelona (one draw, four defeats), but Girona have also only won one of their last five competitive matches (two draws, two defeats). Accordingly, the prediction for Girona against Barcelona clearly goes to the Blaugrana, who have not lost any of their last 29 Catalan derbies in La Liga (21 wins, eight draws).
In addition, Barca have only lost one of 17 league games (14 wins, two draws) and have been particularly convincing defensively. The Blaugrana have only conceded six goals in a total of 17 La Liga games, making it difficult for the Gironistes to score against the current league leaders in their own stadium.
It makes sense to bet on an away win for the Blaugrana, especially as defender Santiago Bueno was sent off in the Blanquivermells’ recent 1-0 defeat at Villarreal and will therefore miss this Catalan derby with a suspension.
Girona – Statistics & current form
Girona FC was founded in 1930 as the result of a merger of several clubs and for much of its history, it eked out a marginal existence in Spanish professional football. It was not until the summer of 2017 that the Blanquivermells were promoted to La Liga for the first time, where they initially only managed to stay for two years.
After relegation, the Gironistes qualified for the promotion play-offs three times in a row, in which they finally succeeded again at the third attempt last summer. The club from Catalonia is currently in its third season in La Liga.
Only one win in their last five competitive games
At the moment, the signs are clearly pointing to staying in the league. With 21 points from the first 18 games, Girona are eleventh in the current table. In fact, however, the good positioning is very deceptive, because the lead over the first relegation place in a very narrow lower half of the table is only four points.
It is true that the Blanquivermells celebrated an important 2-1 victory over struggling Sevilla FC in their last home game so far. However, it was the only win for coach Míchel’s side in their last five competitive matches (two draws, two defeats).
The third best home attack in La Liga
The Gironistes go into the Catalan derby as heavy underdogs. The betting odds on Girona against Barcelona are heavily in favour of the visitors, who have never been beaten in five competitive games so far (one draw, four defeats).
At least the Blanquivermells’ home record is quite respectable. The promoted team has only lost two of its nine home games in La Liga so far (four wins, three draws) and not only occupies ninth place in the home table, but also boasts the third-best home attack in La Liga with 16 home goals already scored.
Predicted line-up of Girona:
Gazzaniga – Gutiérrez – Espinosa – López – Martínez – García – Romeu – Riquelme – Martín – Villa – Stuani
Last matches played by Girona:
La Liga
22/01/2023 – Villarreal FC 1 – 0 Girona
14/01/2023 – Girona 2 – 1 Sevilla FC
08/01/2023 – Espanyol 2 – 2 Girona
29/12/2022 – Girona 2 – 2 Rayo Vallecano
Copa del Rey
23/12/2022 – Cacereno 2 – 1 Girona
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
Fc Barcelona reached deep into their pockets last summer after a highly disappointing 2021/22 season. Due to the tight coffers, those responsible took a high risk with the sale of current and future club rights, but have so far been rewarded with short-term success, at least at national level.
While the Blaugrana failed to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League for the second time in a row, they not only won the Supercopa de Espana with a 3:1 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the final, but are also currently leading the La Liga table.
Who will be chased off the field this winter?
The Catalans have already secured 44 points from their first 17 league games. In four of the last five seasons in which Barca achieved at least that number of points, they also ended up with the league title. Only in 2013/14 was this strong result not enough in the end.
And yet the Blaugrana are being caught up in old problems again these days. Already in the summer, not all players could be registered for La Liga because of the high salaries, whereupon several deserving players had to leave the club. A process that could repeat itself for the second half of the season, as the contract extension with jewel Gavi has once again exceeded the salary cap, leaving several players in the shop window.
Won all seven must-win games in calendar year 2023
Negative to the performances on the pitch, however, has not been the lack of job security for the reserves. The Blaugrana march on unabated at national level. The Catalans have already played seven competitive matches in the 2023 calendar year. They have won every single one of these games.
The Blaugrana have not lost any of their last 29 Catalan derbies in La Liga (21 wins, eight draws) and travel to Girona, some 90 kilometres away, with by far the best defence in the league (only six goals conceded).
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
ter Stegen – Balde – Christensen – Araújo – Koundé – Busquets – de Jong – Pedri – Gavi – Dembélé – Lewandowski
Last matches played by Barcelona:
Copa del Rey
26/01/2023 – FC Barcelona 1 – 0 Real Sociedad
La Liga
23/01/2023 – FC Barcelona 1 – 0 Getafe
Copa del Rey
20/01/2023 – AD Ceuta FC 0 – 5 FC Barcelona
Super Cup
16/01/2023 – Real Madrid 1 – 3 FC Barcelona
13/01/2023 – Real Betis (2)2 – 2(4) FC Barcelona
Girona – Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H-balance
Head to head: 0 – 1 – 4
There have only been five competitive matches between the two teams so far and never before has Girona won a Catalan derby against FC Barcelona. The Blanquivermells have lost both of their two home games so far without scoring a goal against the Blaugrana in their own stadium.
Girona – Barcelona Tip
When it comes to Girona vs Barcelona, the prediction formally goes in the direction of the visitors, who not only won all seven of their competitive matches in January 2023, but also have the most wins overall (14), the fewest defeats (just one) and the fewest goals conceded (just six) in La Liga. This compares with the Blanquivermells, who are still winless in five competitive games against Barca (one draw, four defeats).
Girona have also won just one of their last five competitive games (two draws, two defeats) and have not been in overly good form of late despite a fundamentally strong home record (third best home attack in La Liga).
