Match Pack: Girona FC vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD13)

All is set for a potentially thrilling match as Athletic Club take on Girona FC at the Estadi Montilivi. With both teams favouring an attractive, attacking style of play, spectators could be in for a real treat.

Los Leones are hoping to back up their win against Villarreal CF with another victory. With just two matches left until LaLiga Santander stops for the World Cup, Athletic are keen to tighten their grip on a European spot.

Ernesto Valverde's side will be up against a newly-promoted Girona FC, a team who are currently battling to stay clear of the relegation places. But it will not be an easy game. The Catalans tend to perform well even when the results do not go their way and their squad has enough quality players to give any opponent a real headache.

Match Info
Girona FC vs Athletic Club (Matchday 13)

Montilivi (Girona)

LaLiga Santander 22/23

Friday November 4, 21:00 CET

How to Watch

Make sure you don't miss the fixture with our global TV guide.

Team News
Ernesto Valverde has called up 22 players for the fixture. Iker Muniain, Dani García and Ander Herrera are out with injuries.

The Opponents

Head coach: Míchel

Coming up through the youth system at Rayo Vallecano, Michel spent most of his playing career patrolling the middle of the park at Vallecas. His only spells away from the Madrid based side were a loan to Almería in 1996/97 and a three-year stint with Real Murcía - which also included a season-long loan to Málaga CF.

A promotion specialist, Michel took his first steps into management with Rayo's youth teams. He eventually stepped up to the top job in February 2017, achieving promotion the next season. In June 2019, he took over at SD Huesca, winning the Segunda Division in his first season in charge. The Madrileño joined Girona FC in July 2021 and repeated his record of leading his clubs back into the top-flight, this time via the play-offs last June.

Star player: Cristhian Stuani

Now into his sixth season with the Catalans, the 36-year-old Uruguayan striker is now captain at Girona. The powerful forward guarantees his side effort and goals, having netted more than 200 goals in his 500-odd appearances in professional apperances.

Stuani, who started his career at Danubio in his home country, has been particularly potent since joing Girona from Middlesborough in 2017/18. He has a total of 110 strikes in 186 matches for the Catalonian outfit, including four goals from eight appearances so far this season.

Recent form: LDLDD

Despite some decent performances, Girona have struggled to turn draws into wins upon their return to LaLiga Santander. Their last match saw them win a hard-fought point at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to an 80th-minute Stuani penalty.

From their first 12 matches of 2022/23, Girona have registered four draws and six defeats, with their two victories coming against Getafe CF (3-1) and Real Valladolid (2-1).

Previous Meetings
Very much a modern-era fixture, Girona FC vs Athletic Club took place for the first time in the 2017/18 season. The two sides have played a total of four matches against each other, with Los Leones winning three and losing one.

Athletic have only visited Montilivi twice in LaLiga, recording one victory and one defeat.

In 2018/19, Los Rojiblancos brought all three points back to Bilbao thanks to a second-half comeback. Stuani put the hosts ahead in the first half, but within the space of six minutes Iñaki Williams and Raúl García struck to make sure Athletic secured victory.