AC Milan’s journey resumes with a completely new opponent: the Rossoneri are making ready to face Girona at San Siro. They had been final season’s nice shock in La Liga and are enjoying in Europe’s prime competitors for the primary time of their historical past. The Catalans are enjoying of their first ever official match towards an Italian group, whereas for us, it is going to be our twelfth Spanish rival in continental tournaments. Girona are coming off an unstable begin to 2025, as an away success at Alavés was adopted by a house defeat towards Sevilla final weekend.
The historic debut within the Champions League has been relatively turbulent for Míchel’s group, who’ve to date picked up one win (2-0 over ) and 5 defeats, 4 of which had been by one aim, towards PSG, Feyenoord, Sturm Graz and Liverpool. Girona’s probabilities of qualification are slim – after the match at San Siro, Girona will shut the league part at house towards Arsenal – and they’re depending on a full three factors in Milan. In any case, you possibly can count on a group decided to honour the problem with their highest effort.
A PROACTIVE BUT VULNERABLE GIRONAA group with a nice, proactive sport, at all times making an attempt to impose themselves up entrance. This season, Girona usually are not replicating the successes of 2023/24, achieved by shocking their opponents day after day in a league as aggressive as La Liga. Eighth place in Spain (however recovering after an advanced begin), exterior of the and already eradicated within the Copa del Rey, the Catalans mentioned goodbye to essential gamers from final season in the summertime, similar to Sávio, Aleix García and Dovbyk above all, however the tactical methods of Michel’s group have remained pretty unchanged. A 4-3-3 in some methods not too dissimilar to the Rossoneri’s, during which the forwards stand out for his or her seek for width and depth. The contribution of the full-backs can also be essential: in comparison with AC Milan, it’s above all of the right-back – Arnau Martínez – who is vital to the build-up part, with the left-back becoming a member of the 2 centre-backs.
Sure particulars are lacking, nonetheless, particularly within the Champions League. For instance, in counter-pressing, the place a immediate restoration of the ball may result in alternatives, Girona is the one group on this European season but to try a shot following a counter-attack, and likewise the underside of the competitors desk for defensive recoveries. Up to now, the Catalans have been not often harmful on crosses (only a 20.2% success fee) and haven’t proven the identical effectiveness on passes in Europe as they’ve within the league. At house, they’re behind solely Actual Madrid and Barcelona within the variety of passes, however in Europe solely seventeenth. One other side on which Girona have suffered are the fouls dedicated: within the Champions League, solely Younger Boys (88) have dedicated extra fouls than the Catalans.
A MIX OF OLD AND NEW HANDS, AND WATCH OUT FOR DANJUMAIn their three European outings away from house, Girona have failed to search out the online, which is maybe shocking given they scored 85 La Liga targets in 2023/24. By way of their assault, Abel Ruiz, who signed from Braga in the summertime, is the focus up entrance, though he is had fairly a disappointing marketing campaign to date (simply three league targets). Lining up behind him is captain Stuani, who arrived in 2017 and is the membership’s all-time prime scorer. Out vast, Míchel has the Colombian Asprilla and the Ukrainian Tsygankov to select from down the fitting flank. The previous is the most costly signing in Girona’s historical past and can also be seeking to discover his kind in what has been a difficult season.
On the left, it is the Spaniard (and former Tottenham) Bryan Gil or the Dutchman Danjuma, in restoration in the previous couple of days and a terrific star on this competitors three years in the past with Villarreal (along with our ), in addition to being the Girona participant who has tried probably the most photographs within the Champions League to date with 11. Different essential gamers embrace the Dutchmen van de Beek and Blind, in addition to the 2001-born Gutiérrez, one of many 4 who performed all six Champions League matches to date. Additionally with him are Stuani, the Czech defender Krejčí and the skilled Argentine goalkeeper Gazzaniga, one of many prime keepers on this Champions League version by way of the variety of saves made.
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