Girona FC 2 - 0 ŠK Slovan Bratislava
Municipal de Montilivi
UEFA Champions League LEAGUE_STAGE
22-10-2024 19:00
Girona Form
Sl. Bratislava Form
Girona Lineup
Bench
Sl. Bratislava Lineup
Bench
Girona and Slovan Bratislava enter this contest on the back of frustrating performances in the Champions League group stage. Both clubs are eager to avoid being further stranded at the bottom of the table, making this encounter a must-win for both teams.
Girona, under the guidance of head coach Michel, have endured a turbulent start to their Champions League journey. Despite playing in La Liga, a competitive domestic league, Girona has struggled to adapt to the demands of European competition. The Catalan club has lost both of its opening matches, with individual errors and defensive lapses proving costly.
In their Champions League debut, they were narrowly defeated by Paris Saint-Germain (2-1), with an unfortunate Paulo Gazzaniga own goal sealing their fate. The follow-up match saw more drama at home, as they succumbed to a 3-2 loss against Feyenoord. In that fixture, Girona’s inability to capitalize on penalty opportunities and their tendency to concede own goals (three in two games) highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities.
Slovan Bratislava’s Champions League campaign has been equally challenging. Despite their dominance in Slovakia’s domestic league, where they sit atop the table, Slovan has yet to replicate that form in Europe. Manager Vladimir Weiss has seen his team suffer heavy defeats, including a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Celtic and a 4-0 loss to Manchester City. These results have left Slovan second-bottom in the group, with a mountain to climb to remain competitive.
One of Slovan’s key issues has been their defensive frailty, having conceded nine goals in two matches. They’ve also been largely ineffective in the attacking third, with a meager two shots on target across both games. Austrian defender Kevin Wimmer remains their only goalscorer, illustrating their struggle to create chances.
Girona’s recent performances have been erratic, with only one win in their last eight games across all competitions. Slovan Bratislava, despite strong domestic form, has faltered on the European stage, adding pressure to their visit to Catalonia.
Girona will likely adopt a possession-based game, looking to control the tempo from the outset. Despite their injuries, they have enough quality in midfield with the likes of Van de Beek and Arnaut Danjuma to dominate the ball. Defensively, Girona must focus on reducing individual errors and maintaining concentration, particularly when defending set pieces.
In attack, they will rely on Abel Ruiz to lead the line, with quick transitions from midfield. Girona’s ability to exploit the flanks could be decisive, as Slovan Bratislava has shown vulnerability against fast wide players.
Slovan Bratislava will be aiming to remain compact defensively, hoping to frustrate Girona’s attackers and break quickly on the counter. Expect them to sit deep and absorb pressure, relying on the likes of Vladimir Weiss Jr. to create moments of individual brilliance.
Slovan’s best chance will come from set pieces or quick counter-attacks, as they lack the firepower to break Girona down through sustained possession. Their defense must avoid the lapses that have plagued them thus far in the tournament.
Gazzaniga; A. Martinez, D. Lopez, Krejci, Gutierrez; Martin, Herrera, Solis; Van de Beek, Danjuma, Ruiz.
Takac; Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, Sharani; Bajric, Savvidis; Barseghyan, Tolic, Weiss Jr; Strelec.
While both teams have struggled in the Champions League, Girona’s home advantage and overall squad depth should prove too much for Slovan Bratislava. We predict a tightly contested match, with Girona coming out on top by a narrow 2-1 margin. Despite their injuries, Girona’s superior quality in key areas should allow them to secure their first points of the group stage.
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