Girona and Barça face each other in a rising derby

Girona and Barça face each other in a rising derby

The blaugrana can be winter champions in Montilivi

BARCELONA, 27 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Girona FC and FC Barcelona seek to give more luster to an upward Catalan derby when they meet in Montilivi (4:15 p.m.) this Saturday, on the last day of the first round of LaLiga Santander in which the 'culés' seek to confirm the title honorary winter champion and, for Girona, to continue adding points and prestige on their return to the elite.

Undoubtedly, this Catalan derby is even and Girona is looking for a prestigious victory that will give this battle even more renown in future clashes. With two similar styles, and even two similar speeches, Míchel and Xavi lead two teams that will give everything to come out on top.

At the moment, the balance between Girona and Barça is one draw and three wins for the blaugrana. In Montilivi, the 0-3 and 0-2 of the 17/18 and 18/19 campaign want to be forgotten by the 'gironins', who are convinced that they can play a good game and beat the leader.

For their part, Barça knows that continuing this good run against Míchel's men would allow them to put, momentarily, 6 points in between with respect to Real Madrid, their immediate rival in the table and who will not play until Sunday.

Plus, the win would mathematically earn that winter championship honor. Something to which Xavi does not give too much importance but which has a relative weight in the story. The truth is that the road to that title could go through a victory that is the real challenge and objective for Xavi's team.

Last Wednesday the blaugranas asserted the only goal from Ousmane Dembélé to beat Real Sociedad at the Spotify Camp Nou and advance to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. An extra wear and tear on the physical but a boost of self-esteem for a group that, except for the 'Champions' catastrophe, is having a good start to the campaign, with the Spanish Super Cup won included.

For this derby, Míchel will not be able to count on the injured David López (unless he recovers at the last minute), Kebe and Reinier, nor on the suspended Santi Bueno, who was sent off with two yellow cards in the defeat of the last day of the league at the Ceramic Stadium (1-0).

A painful defeat for Girona FC, who endured the type and the initial tie until the end of the game, in a long added time, where two penalties were awarded and Dani Parejo scored the second of them to give the 'Yellow Submarine' victory . No prize for the great game of goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

On the good side, the rojiblanco coach could count on the reinforcement of Alexander Callens if the transfer arrives on time, and could thus debut just like the Ukrainian winger Vyktor Tsygankov, the great signing in the winter window of LaLiga. By contrast, Girona loses Manu Vallejo (on loan to Oviedo) and Samu Sáiz, now at Turkish Sivasspor.

For his part, at Barça it will be the last of the three days without Robert Lewandowski, who is serving his last game of suspension just like Ferran Torres. Without them, Xavi will have to pull Ousmane Dembélé again, in great shape, Raphinha and Ansu Fati up front or go back to betting on Pedri as a false left winger.

Another question will be to see if Ronald Araujo repeats as right back or if Héctor Bellerín earns another opportunity and moves the Uruguayan to the central position, along with Jules Koundé or Andreas Christensen. There could even be a defense of '3'. In midfield, Frenkie De Jong should win stripes after his recent good performance and Gavi and Pedri will once again take the lead in a duel where a good fight for possession is expected.

GIRONA FC: Gazzaniga; Arnau, Juanpe, Bernardo, Miguel; Romeo, Herrera, Aleix Garcia; Toni Villa, Castellanos and Riquelme.

FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kound, Christensen, Jordi Alba; De Jong, Gavi, Pedri; Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Dembélé.

--REFEREE: Muñiz Ruiz (C. Gallego).

--STADIUM: Montilivi.