Girona vs Slovan Bratislava Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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It has been a tricky start to the season for a Girona side that were split up during the summer transfer window. They welcome Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava to Catalonia during this midweek.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 22nd October, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
GIRONA PREVIEW: NEEDING FLUENCY
Coached by Michel, Girona had to endure a second successive summer in which they lost several key players as the Catalans lost Aleix Garcia, Savio and Artem Dovbyk. Those departures came on the back of a first ever UEFA Champions League qualification in just their fifth season ever in the Spanish top-flight.
Michel has remained but things have certainly changed for Girona and they come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad at Montilivi at the weekend. That means they have now managed just one win in their last seven matches across all competitions since the September international break.
SLOVAN BRATISLAVA PREVIEW: THE UCL MINNOWS
Under the management of Vladimir Weiss, Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava have surprised many by even reaching the league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League. It has been a genuinely really tough opening couple of matches in Europe’s elite club competition, though.
The visitors began their UEFA Champions League season with a trip to Glasgow to face Celtic and they suffered a 5-1 defeat at Celtic Park in that match. They have now conceded nine goals in their opening two games after their second game saw them suffer a 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the Slovakian capital a few weeks ago.
GIRONA TEAM NEWS: INJURIES TO EXPERIENCE
Girona are missing a few experienced players for this one against Slovan Bratislava as defender Daley Blind is unavailable alongside midfielder Oriol Romeu.
As well as those two players, the Catalans are also without Viktor Tsygankov and Portu, whilst Pau Lopez and Bryan Gil are both doubts for this one, too.
PREDICTED XI (3-1-4-2): Gazzaniga; Frances, Lopez, Krejci; Martin; Martinez, Van de Beek, Herrera, Gutierrez; Miovski, Danjuma
UNAVAILABLE: Blind (Injured), Artero (Injured), Romeu (Injured), Tsygankov (Injured), Portu (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lopez (Injured), Gil (Injured)
SLOVAN BRATISLAVA TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT
Slovan Bratislava have a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s clash against Girona at Montilivi so Vladimir Weiss will be able to choose from his whole squad.
There may well be changes after their disappointing start to the campaign with too much reliance on former Rangers winger and Slovan Bratislava captain Vladimir Weiss.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Takac; Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, Sharani; Bajric, Savvidis; Barseghyan, Gajdos, Marcelli; Strelec
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
- Girona and Slovan Bratislava are both in their debut campaign in the UEFA Champions League proper. The pair lost their opening two matches so are aiming for their first positive result.
- Slovan Bratislava’s only success in their previous seven UEFA competition matches against Spanish teams is their 3-2 victory against Barcelona in the 1969 Cup Winners’ Cup final. They are without a win in the six matches since then (D2 L4).
- Slovan Bratislava have drawn two and lost one of their previous three UEFA competition matches against Spanish teams in Spain.
- Slovan Bratislava have only failed to score in one of their last 16 UEFA competition matches away from home
GIRONA VS SLOVAN BRATISLAVA PREDICTION
Girona have been fascinating and entertaining to watch in the last few seasons. The hosts did suffer a defeat to Real Sociedad at the weekend and their performances and results have dropped this year. That said, they still have been able to pull off some results in La Liga and they now face a Slovan Bratislava side that have conceded nine goals in two matches so a comfortable and high-scoring Girona victory is to be expected this week.
GIRONA VS SLOVAN BRATISLAVA TIP: GIRONA TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS
