Girona manager Michel blasted their second-half display against Espanyol as his side failed to convert what was just their second half-time lead of this La Liga season, telling media they “cannot allow” an opponent to snatch a draw when they’ve scored twice.
Girona
A glance at the La Liga standings, which at the beginning of this round displayed a three-point gap between 12th-placed Girona and the relegation zone, is all that’s needed to understand what is at stake when they host surprise relegation contenders Sevilla off the back of two successive 2-2 draws against Espanyol and Vallecano. Girona manager Michel blasted their second-half display against Espanyol as his side failed to convert what was just their second half-time lead of this La Liga season, telling media they “cannot allow” an opponent to snatch a draw when they’ve scored twice. Their defending has indeed been the bane of their existence, with Girona’s recent premature exit from the Copa del Rey part of a group of 18 consecutive competitive games this season without a clean sheet.
Sevilla
Sevilla bounced back with just their second La Liga win as a favourite this season, courtesy of a 2-1 win at home to Getafe. This further highlights their massive underachievement throughout the 2022 calendar year. Few could have imagined at the beginning of August that they’d be considered underdogs against Girona, despite suffering defeat on their last trip to the Estadi Montilivi (0-1) in 2018/19. Despite a mounting injury list, Sevilla’s undefeated journey across all cups and leagues since the end of the World Cup bodes well for their ongoing attempt to move away from the drop zone. They, too have completed seven straight La Liga games without a clean sheet but can opt to welcome defenders Jose Angel Carmona and Gonzalo Montiel back from suspension to boost their chances.
Girona need a return to scoring form from midfielder David Lopez, who found the net in their two La Liga home games before the World Cup break. Despite starting their win against Getafe as a substitute, Rafa Mir secured his fourth goalscoring appearance from his last seven competitive showings for Sevilla. Sevilla’s last eight competitive fixtures all produced a half-time leader.