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Girona’s first ever European fixture at home comes against Feyenoord in the Champions League, who are still recovering from being taken apart by Bayer Leverkusen most recently in this competition.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday October 2nd 2024: UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports 9/ US – CBS Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
GIRONA PREVIEW: STILL SEARCHING FOR FIRST POINTS OF LEAGUE PHASE
Girona will have been so disappointed in the first ever European match of their history to have come incredibly close to what would’ve been a brilliant point for them in Paris. Alas, a late PSG goal following an awful mistake from goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga left Girona heartbroken in the first round of league phase fixtures.
However, Girona showed that they can cope at this high level and that last season’s finish in La Liga wasn’t a fluke. Now with home advantage in their favour, expect them to show more ambition going forwards in this one.
FEYENOORD PREVIEW: DUTCH GIANTS SMARTING AFTER LEVERKUSEN THRASHING
Feyenoord are already playing catch-up across the league phase after being blown away by Bayer Leverkusen in Rotterdam. Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga champions, racked up four first-half goals and eased their way through the second period to secure a 0-4 victory. The hit to Feyenoord’s goal difference could be significant.
It’s not been plain sailing in the Eredivisie recently for Feyenoord either after they were held to a 1-1 draw most recently by NEC. I could’ve been a lot worse though, with the former equalising late on to salvage a point.
GIRONA TEAM NEWS: HOSTS SWEATING ON FITNESS OF EXPERIENCED DUO
Both Daley Blind and Oriol Romeu face late fitness tests as the pair struggle to shake off their respective injuries in time to feature here. Blind has a calf problem, while Romeu’s issue is with his hamstring.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Frances, Lopez, Krejci, Gutierrez; Herrera, Romeu; Tsygankov, Martin, Asprilla; Ruiz
UNAVAILABLE: Artero (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Blind (Injured), Romeu (Injured)
FEYENOORD TEAM NEWS: STENGS AND GIMENEZ MISSING FOR VISITORS
Feyenoord come into this game without two of their key offensive players in attacking midfield Calvin Stengs and striker Santiago Gimenez, both of whom will be big losses for the visitors. Right-back Bart Nieuwkoop is also out.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Hwang, Timber; Osman, Nadje, Paixao; Ueda
UNAVAILABLE: Stengs (Injured), Gimenez (Injured), Nieuwkoop (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
GIRONA VS FEYENOORD PREDICTION
You could definitely make a case here that Girona are catching Feyenoord at the perfect time when taking into account the personnel absent for the away side. Not having Stengs and Gimenez should help to nullify Feyenoord’s threat going forward if Girona can stay disciplined over the course of 90 minutes.
When you also take into account Feyenoord’s poor European record away from home and against Spanish clubs in recent years, backing Girona to triumph on their own ground is a move well worth making, provided it’s done via the draw no bet market for extra security.
GIRONA VS FEYENOORD TIP: GIRONA DRAW NO BET