Does Girona set the course for a place in the final?
After the compulsory task of the La Liga 2 season finale, SD Eibar lost out on direct promotion to the Spanish top flight in a match against last-placed Alcorcon. The Basques conceded a surprising defeat in their away match against the league’s bottom team and thus had to give way to third place.
In the play-offs, however, they will have another chance to win promotion to La Liga. Already in the semi-finals, however, they face a difficult hurdle. After all, Eibar are guests of Girona FC, one of the strongest teams at home in the second Spanish league.
The guests from the Basque country are rated as underdogs in the first leg. For Girona vs. Eibar, odds of 3.40 are currently offered for tip 2, while quotes of up to 2.25 are paid out if the Catalan hosts are successful.
The only encouraging aspect for Eibar is their most recent direct comparison against the Catalans. Eibar have not lost a competitive match against Girona FC since August 2013 – will it stay that way?
Girona – Statistics & current form
The Catalans only qualified for the play-offs on the last matchday. A draw was enough for Girona to secure the sixth and last place for the promotion play-offs. Before that, the Catalan representatives had benefited from some help in the final stretch of the season and dethroned Real Oviedo.
In the play-offs, Girona now have the chance to be promoted to the Spanish top flight. The Catalans have already been in the promotion play-offs in the last two seasons. Neither in the 2019/20 nor in the 2020/21 season was Girona FC able to secure promotion. In both seasons, Girona failed to reach the final of the promotion play-offs.
Now the Catalans, who were last represented in the Spanish top flight in the 2018/19 season, are making their next attempt. The result in the first leg of the semi-final against SD Eibar will set the tone for the next round.
Will Girona make the most of home advantage against Eibar?
The White and Reds were already one of the strongest teams at home in the regular season. In 21 home games, Girona FC had a record of 13-3-5, and only three other teams scored more points at home than the Catalans. It was not only the offensive of the “Gironistes” that shone, but also the Catalan defensive bulwark.
After all, Girona’s goal only rang 16 times in 21 home games. It is quite possible that this will also be the case in the play-offs. In the last two matches, including the season finale at Burgos CF, Girona have not conceded a goal. A clean sheet cannot be ruled out against the upcoming opponents from the Basque Country.
Head coach Míchel will be able to draw on a full squad for the semi-final first leg of the promotion play-offs and has no personnel worries to complain about. However, the Catalans are not expected to make any major changes to their starting eleven.
Predicted line-up of Girona:
Carlos; Martinez, Bueno, Espinosa, Izquierdo; Lozano, A Garcia; Baena, Saiz, B Garcia; Stuani
Last matches played by Girona:
LaLiga2
30/05/2022 – Burgos CF 0 – 0 Girona
22/05/2022 – Girona 2 – 0 CD Mirandes
15/05/2022 – Sporting Gijon 2 – 1 Girona
10/05/2022 – Girona 0 – 1 Tenerife
01/05/2022 – Alcorcon 0 – 1 Girona
Eibar – Statistics & current form
The mission “promotion” has been postponed at SD Eibar for the time being. After the bitter defeat in the season finale against Alcorcón, Eibar has to go into the promotion playoffs. The result was surprising, as the “Azulgranas” had dominated the match against the league’s bottom team for long stretches.
Since a draw was enough for direct promotion, head coach Garitano’s team did not take any major risks in the final phase against Alcorcón. The last team in the table, on the other hand, took advantage of the situation and sent the visitors from the Basque country into the valley of tears with a last-minute goal.
Eibar will now have their next chance to return to the Spanish top flight in the play-offs. After the poor performance in the supposedly compulsory task against Alcorcón, it is not at all surprising that Eibar are classified as underdogs in the semi-final first leg in Catalonia. Even a draw would be a partial success for the Basques in their current situation.
Is SD Eibar running out of steam?
Even before the defeat to Alcorcón, Eibar did not present themselves in the best of form in the season-ending La Liga 2. In the last nine matches of the regular season, the traditional Basque club only managed four victories. In return, there were three defeats and two draws for the promotion-ambitious “Azulgranas” in this period.
Especially away from home, Eibar stumbled recently. In the last six away games, there were only two victories. In total, the Basques have a record of 9-6-6 after 21 away games in the second Spanish league, with the “Azulgranas” scoring at least once on average.
In view of this, it is more than risky to make a prediction on the visitors from the Basque Country in the semi-final first leg between Girona and Eibar. However, bettors who still want to bet on Eibar can more than triple their stake if they are successful. Head coach Garitano will have to do without Munoz and Sielva in Catalonia due to injury.
Predicted line-up of Eibar:
Cantero; Correa, Vencio, Rodriguez, Tono; Alvarez, Exposito; Corpas, Stoichkov, Atienza; Fran Sol
Last matches played by Eibar:
LaLiga2
30/05/2022 – Alcorcon 1 – 0 Eibar
22/05/2022 – Eibar 2 – 0 Tenerife
15/05/2022 – Leganes 2 – 3 Eibar
08/05/2022 – Eibar 0 – 2 Real Valladolid
30/04/2022 – Eibar 2 – 0 Real Zaragoza
Girona – Eibar Direct comparison / H2H balance
In the last 14 matches between the two clubs, SD Eibar leads the direct comparison against Girona with a record of 6-3-5. Two of the six wins have come this season. In the first half of the season, the “Azulgranas” won the second leg in Catalonia with a comfortable 4-2 victory in their own stadium. However, it was “only” a narrow 1:0 victory.
This was the third time in a row that Girona FC lost a home match against the Basque visitors. The last time the Catalan representatives won a home match against Eibar was in January 2009. Since then, there have been four consecutive home victories against the “Azulgranas”.
Girona – Eibar Tip
Both teams do not go into the playoffs in the best shape. While the participation in the playoffs is quite pleasing for Girona FC, SD Eibar goes into the promotion playoffs with long faces. After all, the Basques lost out on direct promotion on the last matchday with a defeat against last-place Alcorcón.
It is quite possible that the Basques have not yet digested that defeat and will also lose the match at Girona FC. The Thursday opponents of the “Azulgranas” are among the strongest teams in the league at home anyway and are brimming with confidence in their own stadium. Girona FC have also reached the final of the promotion play-offs in the last two seasons.
It is therefore not out of the question that Girona will reach the final again this year. The match against the Basques will be determined above all by the result in the first leg. Away from home, Eibar, the strongest team in La Liga 2, will be a difficult hurdle. It is therefore all the more important to win the home match against the Basques.
