FC Barcelona Faces Its Latest Major Nightmare
The Blaugrana put their unbeaten record on the line in the Catalan derby. Last season, they suffered against Girona like no other team has this century.
Spanish football returns to action after weeks of interruption due to international fixtures, with a Catalan derby between Girona and Barcelona. This match poses a significant challenge for Hansi Flick's team, which is currently leading the table with a perfect record of victories.
It's a Champions League duel this season. Míchel Sánchez's side, a major revelation from last season, will make its debut in Europe's top competition.
Before traveling to the Parc des Princes to face PSG, Girona will aim to assert itself again against a Barcelona team that has started strongly with four wins.
Historic Double
Last year, Girona defeated Barcelona twice by 4-2, once at Montilivi and once at Montjuïc. This was a feat no team had achieved this century, and scoring four goals in both matches made it an even more historic accomplishment for Girona.
Although Girona has lost some key players with the departures of Aleix García, Ukrainian Artem Dovbyk, and Brazilian Savinho, the team seems to have found its form after a shaky start, particularly at the Cívitas Metropolitano, where they were beaten 3-0 by Atlético Madrid. They have since recovered with wins against Osasuna (4-0) and Sevilla (0-2).
Míchel’s players will aim to deliver another win for their fans, but they know that this Barcelona team is currently very different from last year's, with a more balanced squad featuring the inspiration of Lamine Yamal, the brilliance of a new Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski’s renewed scoring touch.
Flick’s team will look to maintain at least their four-point lead over their title rivals, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Villarreal.