Match Preview: Girona vs. Alavés

Girona approaches the match after a 2-1 loss at the Coliseum, having conceded 24 goals this season. Among the top five leagues, only Metz (26) and Lorient (25), both from France, have a worse defensive record. The Babazorros have the opportunity to surpass their total points from last season’s first half.

For Girona, addressing their defensive weaknesses must be a priority for growth, especially as they cannot afford to falter against Alavés at Montilivi. This is significant since they will soon face Betis at Cartuja, followed by a home match against Real Madrid. Manager Míchel will be without Van de Beek for this match. The alarming trend for the white and red team reflects just 20 points earned from the last 90 available over two seasons.

On the other hand, Alavés manager Coudet will need to adjust his attacking strategy due to Lucas Boyé’s suspension. With the Argentine unavailable, different alternatives are being considered. It seems likely that Coudet will alter the formation to include Pablo Ibáñez alongside Denis Suárez and Antonio Blanco, with Toni Martínez spearheading the attack. Carlos Vicente may also feature as a new addition to Alavés’ starting lineup. A positive update for the visiting team is the return of goalkeeper Pacheco, who has recovered from a clavicle injury.

The key matchup to watch will be Bryan Gil versus Carlos Vicente, a clash between two dynamic players aiming to dictate the flow of the game from the flanks. Their contributions will be crucial in creating dangerous opportunities and lethal crosses for both Girona and Alavés.

Prediction from Rubén Jiménez: Girona will look to adopt an offensive approach to mitigate their defensive issues, but Alavés has demonstrated formidable defensive capabilities. The expected outcome is a draw: Girona 1 – Alavés 1.