Two Champions League newcomers go head-to-head in matchday three of the league stage as La Liga side Girona take on Slovakian giants Slovan Bratislava.
It has been a baptism of fire for both teams in their Champions League campaign, with neither side picking up a point from two games. However, while Slovan have been mistreated at Celtic Park and rejected by Manchester City on its own soil, Girona has been very marginalized Paris Saint-Germain and Feyenoord.
Girona’s second matchday clash with the Dutch was a success, with the Spaniards succumbing 3-2 after a topsy-turvy game that boasted own goals, missed penalties at both ends and a rare finish from Donny van de Beek
Tuesday’s hosts are struggling after the summer exodus of several key players. They are a mid-table League side, currently sitting in 12th place, but will have their chances of getting their first continental result when Slovan come to town.
The visitors returned to the top of their domestic league with a derby win at the weekend but have looked a long way off the pace in Europe so far.
here it is 90 minutes Tuesday preview Champions League shock
Record H2H Girona vs Slovan Bratislava
This is the first competitive match between Girona and Slovan Bratislava.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Girona |
Slavic Bratislava |
|---|---|
|
Girona 0-1 Real Sociedad – 19/10/24 |
Spartak Trnava 0-1 Slovan Bratislava – 16/10/24 |
|
Girona 2-1 Athletic Club – 06/10/24 |
Slovan Bratislava 1-1 Trencin – 05/10/24 |
|
Girona 2-3 Feyenoord – 02/10/24 |
Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City – 01/10/24 |
|
Celta Vigo 1-1 Girona – 29/09/24 |
Michalovce 2-4 Slovan Bratislava – 27/09/24 |
|
Girona 0-0 Rayo Vallecano – 25/09/24 |
Belusa 1-6 Slovan Bratislava – 24/09/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Discovery+, discovery+ app, TNT Sports 6 |
|
united states |
Paramount+, ViX |
|
canada |
DAZN |
Girona are far from healthy, with their situation only getting worse at the weekend. Yaser Asprilla is the latest fitness drop who will not be available for this Champions League clash.
Asprilla is out along with the experienced duo of Daley Blind and Oriol Romeu, as well as Ukraine international Viktor Tsygankov, who is suffering from a thigh injury.
Portu is unlikely to feature due to an ankle injury, while Bryan Gil is a doubt. ancient Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek should start in an attacking midfield position.
Girona predicted the lineup against Slovan Bratislava (4-3-2-1): Gazzaniga; MartÃnez, Krejci, López, Gutiérrez; MartÃn, Herrera, SolÃs; Van de Beek, Danjuma; Miovski
The visitors have a couple of familiar names in their ranks but will be without Slovakian international Juraj Kucka, formerly of Watford, after undergoing knee surgery in September. The veteran midfielder is back in training, but this game has come too soon for him to return.
Former Tottenham defender Kevin Wimmer is set to start at the heart of Slovan’s defence. The Austrian scored the Slovakian club’s first Champions League goal of the campaign at Celtic Park on matchday one.
Slovan Bratislava predicted the lineup against Girona (4-2-3-1): Takac; Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, Sharani; Bajric, Savvidis; Barseghyan, Tolic, Weiss Jr; Strelec.
Unlike their rival, Girona have not been disgraced in two days of the Champions League and should have accumulated at least a couple of points. However, they are riddled with injuries heading into this game.
Both teams will see this game as a great opportunity to pick up a win from the opening phase of the league, with Slovan likely to cede territory and aim to hit their hosts in transition. So far, that ploy has failed miserably, and Girona’s cohesive positional play could see them through on Tuesday.
