Barcelona will attempt to steady the ship on Monday night when they travel across Catalonia to face Girona, looking to respond emphatically after a bruising setback in the Copa del Rey.
Hansi Flick’s men remain top of the La Liga standings, holding a slender one-point advantage over Real Madrid. Girona, meanwhile, sit 12th, but their position belies just how tight the bottom half of the table remains.
Girona’s recent uptick in form has been crucial. Under Michel, they have accumulated six wins, eight draws and nine defeats from 23 league matches in the 2025–26 campaign. Four victories from their last eight fixtures have provided breathing space, although only four points separate them from 18th-placed Rayo Vallecano. In short, there is little margin for error.
Back-to-back 1-1 draws against Sevilla and Getafe underline their competitive edge but also highlight a recurring issue — converting parity into maximum returns. Home form has been particularly problematic. Girona have managed just three wins from 11 league games at Montilivi, collecting 13 points in total — a tally that ranks among the division’s weakest on home soil.
Barcelona, by contrast, have thrived on their travels. The reigning champions boast the second-best away record in La Liga, amassing 25 points from 12 fixtures. Three consecutive league wins have preserved their place at the summit, and with Real Madrid set to face Real Sociedad, the title race remains finely poised.
However, momentum was dented dramatically in midweek. A 4-0 first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final has left Flick’s side facing a formidable recovery task. Conceding four times before the interval exposed rare defensive fragility, and the psychological response will be closely scrutinised.
La Liga now assumes immediate priority. Historically, Barcelona have dominated this fixture, winning eight of the previous meetings. Girona’s most notable triumph came in a 4-2 victory in December 2023, but Barcelona have since taken the last three encounters, including a 2-1 success in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Injuries & Suspensions
Girona continue to navigate a significant injury list. Juan Carlos (knee), Donny van de Beek (Achilles), Portu (knee), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (hamstring), Alex Moreno (muscle) and Ricard Artero (ankle) are all unavailable. Azzedine Ounahi faces a late fitness test due to a calf issue.Thomas Lemar, fresh from scoring against Sevilla, is expected to retain his place, while Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat should again spearhead the attack.
Barcelona are without Gavi, Andreas Christensen and Pedri, all sidelined with knee or hamstring problems. Raphinha and Marcus Rashford remain major doubts, potentially forcing Flick into tactical adjustments.
Gerard Martin could be introduced into the back line, allowing Eric Garcia to advance into midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong. With uncertainty surrounding Raphinha and Rashford, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez are poised to feature prominently, while Robert Lewandowski is likely to lead the line ahead of Ferran Torres.
Possible Starting Lineups
Girona:Gazzaniga; Rincon, Reis, Blind, Martinez; Beltran, Martin; Tsygankov, Lemar, Gil; Vanat
Barcelona:
J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; E Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Fermin; Lewandowski
Expert Prediction
Girona 1-2 Barcelona
