High-flying Girona will face a test of their title credentials when they welcome Atletico Madrid to Estadi Municipal de Montilivi for Wednesday's La Liga contest.
While Girona are sitting alongside Real Madrid at the top of the table, Atleti are seven points adrift in third position.
Match preview
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Girona have the chance to make 2024 the most memorable year in the club's history, having put themselves firmly in the title picture with 14 wins, three draws and just one defeat in their 18 league matches.
The only slight disappointment for the surprise package is that they missed the chance to finish 2023 as the outright leaders after giving up a slender advantage to draw 1-1 with Real Betis in their final match before the break.
While Artem Dovbyk may have seen his effort cancelled out by German Pezzella's 88th-minute equaliser, the Ukrainian's strike represented Girona's 42nd league goal of the season, making them the top-flight's highest scorers by a three-goal margin.
After wrapping up the calendar year with an away draw, Michel's side will return to Catalonia for their first match of 2024, and they will be desperate to continue their fine home form after winning four of their last five matches at Montilivi (D1).
The hosts will be fully aware of the challenge that awaits them on Wednesday, but they have demonstrated in December's 4-2 away win over Barcelona that they have the mentality and quality to beat the biggest teams in the country.
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Atleti saw their hopes of winning a 12th top-flight title were dented by an inconsistent run of form in December, as they finished the year with just two victories in five league games (D1, L2).
They began the final month of 2023 with away defeats to Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao either side of a 2-1 home win over relegation-threatened Almeria.
After being held to a point by Getafe, Atleti managed to at least finish 2023 on a positive note in their home game against Sevilla, as Marcos Llorente came off the bench at half time to score a 46th-minute goal which ultimately proved decisive.
While that victory extended their unbeaten home run to 21 league games (W19, D2), Diego Simeone's side have struggled to replicate that sort of form on their travels, having lost each of their last three away fixtures in La Liga.
With Wednesday's visitors desperate to claim their first away league win since October 21, they would certainly take a repeat of their last trip to Montilivi in March when Alvaro Morata netted a stoppage-time winner to clinch a narrow 1-0 victory.
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Girona defender David Lopez has joined an absentee list that features Toni Villa and Joel Roca after he picked up an injury in the 1-1 draw against Betis.
The visitors also have doubts over the availability of Ricard Artero, Yangel Herrera and Borja Garcia, but they could welcome back Viktor Tysgankov following a two-game injury absence.
If the Ukraine international is passed fit, he will line up in a front three alongside his compatriot Dovbyk as well as Troyes loanee Savio.
As for the visitors, they remain without the injured pair of Pablo Barrios and Thomas Lemar, while Caglar Soyuncu will serve a one-match ban after being sent off in the narrow win over Sevilla.
After coming off the bench to score the winner against the Andalusians, Llorente is set to be rewarded with a recall to the Atletico starting lineup.
Mario Hermoso missed the final game of 2023 through suspension, but he is expected to return to the side to feature as one of three centre-backs alongside Cesar Azpilicueta and Jose Maria Gimenez.
There will be no Reinildo Mandava in the squad, with the Mozambique defender currently away with his national side preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; E. Garcia, Juanpe, Blind; Couto, Martin, A. Garcia, Gutierrez; Tsygankov, Savio, Dovbyk
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Llorente, Azpilicueta, Gimenez, Hermoso, Lino; Koke, Witsel, De Paul; Griezmann, Morata
We say: Girona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Atleti have shown inconsistency in their recent league games, and if they are unable to produce their best form against Girona, they could experience a difficult evening.
With that in mind, we think that a free-scoring Girona side will continue their remarkable season by condemning the visitors to a fourth consecutive away defeat in La Liga.
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