Girona vs Valencia prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-12-01 13:00.
Girona’s six-match winning streak ended on Monday night when they drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao but they still ended the round level on points with La Liga (LL) leaders Real Madrid, even if they saw that as an opportunity missed. Defender Eric GarcĂa spoke of his frustration in the aftermath, as his side failed to win after opening the scoring for the first time this league campaign (W7).
Only Madrid and Bilbao have taken points off Los Blanquivermells at home in the league this term (W5, D1, L1) and they have an early chance to get back to winning ways at Estadi Montilivi against Valencia. As Girona boss MĂchel prepares to take on another of LL’s younger guards in RubĂ©n Baraja, he’ll be expecting a tight battle as all six prior league H2Hs were decided by a single-goal margin (W2, L4).
Valencia might have won two of the three meetings here (L1), but their progress has stalled either side of the international break (D1, L1) and they find themselves in mid-table following a 0-0 draw with struggling Celta Vigo last Saturday. Baraja was happy enough with the point and clean sheet, although he admitted he would have liked his team to produce more “clarity and fluidity” with the ball.
More of both are required if Los Ches are to do anything about their dire away form as they’ve now gone six LL away games without winning (D3, L3), including a 5-1 hammering by leaders Madrid in their last road trip. The last four of those games (D2, L2) saw them concede first, twice within the opening five minutes, so Baraja must be desperate for his side to settle quickly and seize the initiative.
Players to watch: Viktor Tsygankov has netted after the 50th minute in two of Girona’s last three games and has never been on the losing side when scoring for them (W3, D2). With a similar eye for second-half goals, Hugo Duro has scored after the 65th minute in two of Valencia’s last four league fixtures.
Hot stat: Valencia are LL’s only team yet to score a set-piece goal this term (excluding penalties).