Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Girona FC (LaLiga MD23)

Athletic Club will look to extend their unbeaten run in LaLiga to 14 matches as they host Girona FC at San Mames on Saturday afternoon.

It's a crucial match for the Lions, who want to tighten their grip on fourth place and gain some distance on the chasing pack, which includes the Catalan side. Last season's revelations, and eventual Champions League qualifiers, Michel's team currently sit in seventh place with 31 points.

 

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Girona FC

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 24/25 (Matchday 23)

February 8, 16:15 CET

Tickets can be purchased via this link. 

How to Watch
Check out our global TV guide to make sure you don't miss the match  
 

Team News
Valverde has named a 22-man squad for the clash in Bilbao.

Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Álvaro Djaló and Nico Williams are unavailable due to their respective injuries. New signing Maroan Sannadi is in the squad while Endika Buján and Aingeru Olabarrieta are called up from Bilbao Athletic as cover.
 

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything he had to say at his pre-match press conference. 

The Opponents

Head coach: Michel

The Madrid-born coach took over at the Estadio Montilivi in July 2021. In just his three seasons in charge he has taken Girona from the second division to Champions League qualification.

He led Girona back to LaLiga via the play-offs in his first campaign, consolidate their place in the top-flight in 2023/24 and then guided his side to Champions League football last season.

In terms of LaLiga matches with Girona, his record stands at 47 wins, 23 draws and 31 losses from 101 matches.

Top scorer: Cristhian Stuani

Joint top scorer with Abel Ruiz, but with fewer appearances, the 38-year-old Uruguayan forward has four goals in 17 appearances so far this season.

A Girona legend, no other player has scored more times for the Catalans. In all competitions he has netted 134 times in 274 matches for the Blanquivermells.

Recent form: WWLLW

While Girona haven't quite replicated the form which saw them finish third last season, Michel's charges are still a very dangerous side. They have three wins and two defeats from their last five matches.
 

 

Previous Meetings
A regular fixture in recent years, Athletic's first LaLiga clash with Girona FC was a 2-0 win in the 2016/17 campaign. We've faced the Catalans nine times in total, registering four wins, one draw and four defeats.

We have a strong home record against the Blanquivermells, with three victories and one defeat from Girona's four LaLiga visits to Bilbao.
 

Los Leones ran out 3-2 winners in the corresponding fixture last season. An Alex Berenguer brace and an Iñaki Williams strike ensured Athletic took all three points.