Girona will face a tough test in their first match following the Christmas Break. La Liga’s second-place team will host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in a massive top-three six-point affair.
Atletico Madrid could get themselves into the La Liga title race with a win. However, they need city rival Real Madrid to drop points against Mallorca on matchday No. 19.
Finishing off 2023 with +3 😁 pic.twitter.com/XfYUxTCG4C— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) December 23, 2023
Finishing off 2023 with +3 😁 pic.twitter.com/XfYUxTCG4C
Diego Simeone’s Atletico are seven points off first place ahead of Wednesday. Atletico went unbeaten in their last two La Liga matches.
They are in good form and hoping to make the most of a trip to Girona.
Los Rojiblancos lost just one of their opening 18 matches of the La Liga campaign. Head coach Michel led Girona to 10 straight matches without a defeat.
However, Atletico won the last three games against Girona in all competitions.
Girona took 22 of their 45 points playing at home this season. They scored 21 goals and conceded 10 times in their nine home fixtures.
Atletico have struggled on the road this season. Just 10 of Atletico’s 38 points this season came away from the Estadio Metropolitano.
Simeone’s team scored just 13 times in eight road games. Meanwhile, Atletico conceded eight goals to their opponents on the road.
Atletico Madrid are on a three-game losing streak on their travels. It is a poor run of form on the road. Can Girona take advantage of Atletico’s awful road form?
Last season, Atletico did the league double over Girona by a combined score of 3-1. Girona will have the odds against them despite Atletico’s poor road form this season.
Simeone will be without defender Caglar Soyuncu due to a suspension. Pablo Barrios is out with a meniscus injury. Midfielder Thomas Lemar is unlikely to play due to an achilles injury.
Forward Antoine Griezmann leads Atletico in goals in La Liga with 11 this season. Alvaro Morata added nine to the Atletico cause.
Girona coach Michel has several players on the injured list ahead of Wednesday’s game. Midfielder David Lopez is unlikely to play due to a muscle injury.
Yangel Herrera is also suffering from an injury and unlikely to play. Borja Garcia, Joel Roca Casals, Ricardo Artero and Toni Villa are all unlikely to make the squad due to their injury issues. Forward Artem Dovbyk leads Girona in goals with 11 this season in La Liga.
Girona should continue their good form, but Atletico should once again take points off them. Wednesday’s game should finish 2-2, with Atletico Madrid taking points off Girona.