Does Girona also underpin their league form in the Cup?
Girona are currently causing a sensation in La Liga and are one of the strongest teams in the Spanish top flight, level on points with leaders Madrid. The surprise team from Catalonia has not lost a competitive match since September 2023. The Gironistes now face the second round of the Copa del Rey.
The Whites and Reds face Orihuela away from home. Girona are the clear favorites against the fourth-division side
Orihuela are winless in their last five competitive matches. “El Escorpión”, as the fourth-division side are also known, have even lost three of these five matches. It would be all the more surprising if Orihuela were to pull off a cup coup against in-form Girona in their current form
The H2h is not particularly meaningful in terms of our Orihuela vs Girona prediction. The last time the two clubs met was in 2008, back then in the fourth Spanish division, mind you.
Orihuela – Statistics & current form
Orihuela CF have reached the second round of the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2019/20 as a fourth-division side. The last time “El Escorpión” were represented in that cup round, Orihuela were eliminated in extra time against Villarreal. However, the last time they reached the third round of the Copa del Rey was in 2011.
Orihuela are likely to miss out on advancing to the next round again this time. In its current form, there are hardly any arguments to support a prediction for Orihuela against Girona. In their last five matches, “El Escorpión” have a meagre record of 0-2-3.
In these five league games, Orihuela have failed to score three times. It therefore remains to be seen how the fourth-division side will perform against a team like Girona. Especially as the Catalans have only conceded 18 goals in 15 matchdays in the Spanish top flight
Will Orihuela’s defense be overrun?
The Catalans’ showpiece, however, is their offense. Statistically speaking, Orihuela’s cup opponents have the best attack in La Liga. Considering how weak “El Escorpión’s” defensive line was against Cadiz’s reserves recently, it is obvious that Girona will overrun the fourth-division side
After all, they lost 4-2 in the league clash against Cadiz’s reserve team. It was the third home game in a row in which Orihuela conceded two or more goals. It is quite possible that this negative trend will continue against their Catalan cup opponents.
Head coach Oscar Sanchez has no serious personnel worries to complain about. Compared to the starting eleven that started last weekend in the Segunda RFEF, no major changes are expected at FC Orihuela.
Predicted Orihuela line-up:
Arias – Damian, Martinez, Ortiz, Sirera – Camacho, Ortiz – Pallares, Munoz, Callejon – Revilla
Girona – Statistics & current form
Girona are the surprise team of the current season. After 15 matchdays in the Spanish top flight, the Catalans are in second place with 38 points – level on points with leaders Real Madrid, mind you. The “Gironistes” have only lost a single league game this season.
The Catalans will now go into the cup match against Orihuela with a broad chest. In their current form, Girona FC should not have too much trouble against the fourth-division club. The Whites have won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions
The Catalan surprise team’s scoring rate was particularly impressive. Girona scored an average of 2.25 goals per match in these eight matches. It is quite possible that these statistics will also be underpinned against Orihuela. Meanwhile, Girona have the best attack in La Liga anyway
Girona with concentrated offensive power into the next round?
Although their adventure in the 2023/24 Copa del Rey only started with a 2-1 win against San Roque, it cannot be ruled out that they will deliver a shooting party this time. The Gironistes have enough attacking power to do so. Girona have scored a total of eight goals in their last three competitive matches on foreign soil.
With a total of twelve scoring points (7 goals, 5 assists), striker Artem Dovbyk has been one of the factors behind Girona’s success so far. Will the Ukrainian also play in the Cup? A major rotation is likely, but a sensible one, as Girona already struggled in the cup in the previous round.
There is plenty of room for maneuver. Only one player, Toni Villa, will not be available for the cup game due to injury. There are no other absentees for the Catalans.
Girona’s probable line-up:
Gazzaniga – Gutierrez, Blind, Lopez, Garcia – Martin, Garcia, Herrera – Tsygankov, Dovbyk, Savio
Orihuela – Girona head-to-head / H2H result
Orihuela and Girona meet for the fourth time in total. In the three previous encounters – two in the fourth division and one in the Copa del Rey – Orihuela remained unbeaten against Girona. In these three H2hs, “El Escorpión” even kept a clean sheet. The last time the two clubs met was in February 2008. Orihuela won 3-0 against the “Gironistes.”
Orihuela – Girona betting tip
Girona face a tough task in the Cup against the struggling fourth-division side Orihuela. The Catalans should have no trouble against their lower-ranked opponents and, in their current form, book their place in the next round. Girona have won seven of their last eight competitive matches.
Orihuela, on the other hand, are winless in their last five matches. The fourth-division club have recently suffered three defeats in a row at home. It would be all the more surprising if “El Escorpión” were to improve on that run of form against the surprise team from Catalonia of all teams
We tend to bet on “HT/FT: 2/2” for the cup match between Orihuela and Girona. Alternatively, we also recommend betting on at least two goals from the visitors. Orihuela have conceded nine goals in their last three home games. Against Girona, it is therefore only a matter of time before the fourth-division side find the back of the net. We are using five units for our HT/FT betting prediction. The bookmakers’ odds seem to expect a B team from the first division side, which is understandable in view of the visit to Barca, otherwise there wouldn’t even have been 1.10 odds
