Barcelona v Girona: Line-ups, stats and preview

Barcelona v Girona match preview

Thirteen days after suffering a surprising first league defeat of the season with a 4-1 loss at Sevilla, Barcelona will perhaps see a home encounter with third-bottom Girona has a near-ideal opportunity to move top of La Liga on Saturday.

With Real Madrid visiting midtable Getafe on Sunday, the reigning champions can go a point above Los Blancos if they return to winning ways against opponents they beat 4-1 home and away last season, as well as ending a run of two consecutive defeats, having lost 2-1 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on October 1.

“The most important thing is the reaction,” said Barca manager Hansi Flick, praising his side’s second-half performance against Sevilla while warning that they must start better this time out.

“That is what I said to the team. It’s one match, we lost it and we have to keep going.”

Third in 2023/24, Girona competed in the Champions League last season but finished a point above the relegation zone and only won their first league game of 2025/26 at the eighth attempt on Saturday, following up a run of three draws in four matches by beating Valencia 2-1 at home.

“I am not at all happy with how things have gone at the start, especially in the first three games,” said sporting director Quique Carcel, referencing Girona’s hat-trick of opening defeats by an aggregate 10-1 scoreline.

“The team has improved and I think this will continue. The goal is to get away from the bottom as soon as possible, and we will do it.”

Carcel voiced his confidence in manager Michel, who took over in 2021 and was the manager of the year in the division two seasons ago.

“With Michel, there is an incredible connection,” explained Carcel. “He is my favourite coach and has the full support of the club. He has enormous growth potential and I would like him to continue.”

Michel said he “has in mind what we will do” against Barca but added that his team “are not PSG 2.0”.

“Even though they are coming off two defeats, I don’t think Barca are in a bad moment,” added the Madrid-born boss.

“The break has been good for [us for] recovering players and working with others who need to understand our game more.

“I see a team that works well, that is taking steps forward and that will grow and improve. I have in mind what we will do [against Barca], but we are not PSG 2.0.”

Barcelona v Girona team news

Wingers Lamine Yamal (pubis) and Fermin Lopez (leg muscle) are back from injury but will not play for 90 minutes, Flick said.

The German hopes Raphinha will return for the trip to Real Madrid on October 26, and fellow striker Robert Lewandowski’s left-hamstring issue – the Poland captain’s second such injury this season – will keep him out.

Goalkeeper Joan Garcia has a short-term injury, wideman Dani Olmo has a problem with his left calf and Ferran Torres will miss the game as a precaution because of soreness in the forward’s left hamstring.

“We have to find solutions and manage the situation,” Flick said of Barca’s injuries. “The academy players may get their chance, as well as those who haven’t had many minutes so far.”

Former Netherlands midfielder Donny van de Beek is a long-term absentee for Girona with a ruptured Achilles tendon, while goalkeeper Juan Carlos has a knee injury.

Midfielders Thomas Lemar and David Lopez are sidelined and defender Alejandro Frances and midfielder Ivan Martin will serve suspensions for late red cards against Valencia, but winger Joel Roca is back from representing Spain at the under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Forward Abel Ruiz is in contention following a calf issue, as is winger Viktor Tsygankov, having missed seven matches with a leg injury.

“They have gone through a long period without competing,” said Michel, calling Ruiz and Tsygankov “important”.

“I hope that from now on they will be with us normally. We need everyone to have more options when making the line-up and to be more competitive.”

Barcelona v Girona predicted line-ups

Barcelona starting XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Frenkie de Jong, Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Pedri, Roony Bardghji, Marcus Rashford

Girona starting XI: Paulo Gazzaniga, Hugo Rincon, Vitor Reis, Daley Blind, Arnau Martinez, Lancinet Kourouma, Axel Witsel, Alex Moreno, Yaser Asprilla, Vladyslav Vanat, Portu

How to watch Barcelona v Girona: Live stream, TV channel

Kick-off on Saturday is at 15:15 BST (10:15 ET / 07:15 PT), with live coverage in the UK on La Liga TV and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.

A Premier Sports subscription, which includes La Liga TV, costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.

Barcelona v Girona stats

Barcelona v Girona prediction

Barcelona did not lose three in a row during Flick’s first season but they did suffer league and Champions League defeats in quick succession before the international break in 2024/25.

That may give fans cause to fear repeats of their mini-slumps later in the first half of the season, taking one point from three games during one stretch and enduring three successive home defeats in another.