Girona's battle to finish above Barcelona in second spot in the La Liga table will continue on Sunday evening, when they head to Mestalla to tackle an out-of-form Valencia outfit.
The visitors are currently third, four points behind second-placed Barcelona with two games left, while Valencia sit ninth and can no longer secure European football for the 2024-25 campaign.
Match preview
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Valencia's 2022-23 La Liga campaign was so disappointing, finishing down in 16th spot in the table, that it would have been difficult for the club to not make some form of progression this season.
There have been plenty of positives for Los Che in 2023-24, with a number of youngsters impressing, and they were involved in a race for a European spot before their recent run of disappointing form.
Indeed, Ruben Baraja's side are on a five-game winless run in Spain's top flight, with four of those matches ending in defeats, including a 1-0 reverse to Real Sociedad last time out.
Valencia sit ninth in the table, eight points behind seventh-placed Real Betis, while they are three points behind eighth-placed Villarreal heading into the final two gameweeks of the season.
Los Che will be bidding to end their campaign with successive wins over Girona and Celta Vigo, and they have been solid at Mestalla during the 2023-24 campaign, picking up 30 points from 18 matches, while five of Girona's seven league defeats this season have come on their travels.
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Girona have had a remarkable campaign, with the Catalan outfit securing a top-four position in the table to ensure that they will play in the Champions League for the first time next season.
The White and Reds are only in their fourth-ever La Liga campaign, finishing 10th, 18th and 10th in their previous three, so it has been a historic season, and they can still claim the runners-up spot behind Real Madrid.
That said, Barcelona have a four-point advantage in second position, while Atletico Madrid in fourth are only two points off Girona, so they can still finish second, third or fourth this season.
Michel's team will actually enter this match off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Villarreal, while they were held to a 2-2 draw by Alaves in their last away fixture on May 10.
Girona, who finish their campaign at home to already-relegated Granada next weekend, will be looking to do a league double over Valencia, having recorded a 2-1 victory when the two teams locked horns in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Team News
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Valencia are set to be without the services of at least four players this weekend, with Jaume Domenech, Mouctar Diakhaby and Fran Perez definitely on the sidelines through injury.
Jesus Vazquez has a slight chance of being involved in the squad, but it is unlikely that the defender will be risked, as he is battling a muscular issue.
Late checks will also need to be made on Pepelu and Hugo Duro, with the pair missing out against Real Sociedad, but both are being tipped to return to the squad for the clash with Girona.
The visitors will welcome Arnau Martinez back into their squad, with the defender serving the suspension which saw him miss out against Villarreal last time out.
However, Yan Couto, Borja Garcia, Ricard Artero, Cristhian Stuani and Jhon Solis could again all miss out for Michel's side on Sunday evening through injury.
Ivan Martin is again set to operate as the number 10 for Girona behind centre-forward Artem Dovbyk, who has scored 20 times during an impressive first season in Spain's top flight.
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Ozkacar, Foulquier; D Lopez, Guillamon, Pepelu, Guerra; Almeida, Duro
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; E Garcia, D Lopez, Blind, Gutierrez; Herrera, A Garcia; Tsyhankov, Martin, Savio; Dovbyk
We say: Valencia 1-1 Girona
This is shaping up to be a fascinating clash, and Valencia will fancy their chances at home despite their recent run of form. Girona are already guaranteed a top-four spot, and we are expecting the points to be shared in a close match on Sunday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
