La Liga: Can Girona Pick Up Where They Left Off?

Girona vs Athletic Bilbao

League leaders Girona will round off the La Liga action this weekend when they entertain fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao at the Estadi Montivili on Monday night.

The La Liga 2023 betting odds price Michel’s Girona at 18.00 to win the title. Okay, we have Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico at shorter odds, but who would have predicted Girona to finish in fourth at the very start of the campaign?

Not this SBOTOP writer, but now I’m a believer!

In only their fourth season in the Spanish top-flight, the Gironistes have gate-crashed the top four in some style, and Michel is fast becoming a legend in Catalonia.

They are a third of the way through the campaign and went into the international break on the back of a six-match winning run, dating back to a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in September.

Last time out, Girona won 2-1 away to Rayo Vallecano, while Athletic Club won a seven-goal thriller at home to Celta Vigo.

Michel’s opposite number Ernesto Valverde is an experienced campaigner. In his second stint as Bilbao boss and because he is a two-time La Liga winner with Barcelona, Valverde will have his in-form team ready for the challenge when he returns to the Catalan capital on Monday.

Talking Points

Dovbyk’s on fire

With four goals from the last four league games, Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk is one of the hottest shots in La Liga at the moment, and with seven goals for the season and four assists, he is Girona’s most lethal weapon.

He scored the leveller against Vallecano, and Dovbyk looks like one of the signings of the summer since his transfer from Ukraine top-flight side Dnipro-1.

The fourth top scorer in the league, Dovbyk is a powerful figure at 6’2” tall and is equally good in the air or with either foot. He scored 44 goals in 71 games for Dnipro and has continued with his one in two ratio in Spain, and Dovbyk is already a firm fan favourite in Girona.

Alongside the Ukrainian, the evergreen Cristhian Stuani is weighing in with three goals and one assist, while midfielder and former Manchester City academy player Yangel Herrera has four goals.

This is a team bursting with confidence and with no little quality, and right- back Arnau Martinez has attracted a lot of attention with his cultured defencive play and superb distribution.

The Williams boys are on a hot streak

Spanish striker Gorka Guruzeta is top scoring for Athletic Club with six goals, and he bagged a brace in the 4-3 win over Celta Vigo.

It’s his best season yet, and the local lad is thriving on his return to Bilbao. He is thriving up front alongside brothers Inaki and Nico Williams, who are both having a productive campaign.

Inaki, now 29 and at the club since 2014, has scored five goals, his last in a 3-2 win over Villarreal when Bilbao were last on the road, and he’s having a competitive tussle with Guruzeta to be the club’s top scorer.

With 67 goals in 319 games for Athletic Club, Williams has never been a prolific scorer but he’s a vital cog in the machine, able to play as a target man and hold the ball up, as well as finding the net at the crucial moments.

Younger brother Nico is an exciting talent and, as a fast and tricky winger, he has already represented Spain at the age of 21. He is on the radar of Europe’s top clubs and has already made six assists this season, as well as scoring a crucial goal against the Yellow Submarine.

Girona will have their hands full to keep an eye on these three forwards, and then midfield ace Oihan Sancet is another threat, weighing in with three goals.

History

While Girona are newcomers to the big time, Athletic Club have won La Liga eight times, though the Lions’ last triumph was back in 1984 in a year they completed the domestic league and cup double.

These two teams have met six times and have shared the love with three victories each, though Girona did the double last season with a 2-1 win in Catalonia and a 3-2 victory in the Basque.

Betting Tip

Athletic Club are at 2.69 to win with Girona the favourites at 2.20, and this all adds up to being an absorbing match. I don’t think there will be much in it at all and, for an alternative bet, Total Goal 2-3 is worth a look at odds of 1.89.

Girona fans will be watching the La Liga 2023 updates with interest this weekend when Barcelona are playing away to Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid are away to Cadiz.

Should Los Blancos win then Girona will be toppled off the summit before they kick a ball, and that would add that little bit more pressure. I don’t think they will lose, but I think the leaders will be pushed all the way.

 

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