Girona will be bidding to make it four straight wins in La Liga when they continue their 2023-24 campaign away to Granada on Monday night.
Michel's side have picked up 10 points from their first four games of the season to sit in second position in the table, while Granada are 16th, boasting just three points from their opening four matches.
Match preview
© Reuters
Granada started their La Liga campaign with successive losses to Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano before recording a 3-2 victory over Mallorca in their third match of the season at the end of August.
Paco Lopez's side will enter this match off the back of a defeat, though, having suffered a 5-3 loss to Real Sociedad before the international break.
A total of three points from four matches has left Granada in 16th position in the table, and they will now finish the month with matches against Girona, Las Palmas and Real Betis.
The Andalusian outfit secured a return to La Liga as the 2022-23 Segunda Division champions, finishing top of the pile with 75 points from their 42 matches.
These two teams have not locked horns since the 2010-11 campaign in the Segunda Division, with Granada running out 2-1 winners on home soil.
© Reuters
Girona, meanwhile, have made an excellent start to the season, opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad before recording three straight wins over Getafe, Sevilla and Las Palmas.
Michel's side have picked up 10 points from their four matches, which has left them in second in the table, two points behind the leaders Real Madrid.
Girona finished 10th in Spain's top flight last season, which proved to be their joint-best final position in La Liga, and they will have their eyes on a possible European spot this term.
The White and Reds will finish the month with games against Granada, Mallorca, Villarreal and Real Madrid, and it will be interesting to see where the team sit in the table heading into October.
Girona have only conceded twice in their four matches this season, but Granada have the worst defensive record at this stage, shipping 12 in their opening four games.
- L
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Granada will be without the services of Jesus Vallejo and Raul Torrente on Monday evening through injury, which was also the case against Real Sociedad before the international break.
Lopez's side finished strong last time out, netting twice in the latter stages, and the second-half goalscorers Lucas Boye and Bryan Zaragoza should retain their spots in the final third.
It seems likely that there will be alterations in deeper positions, though, with Oscar Melendo likely to be introduced in midfield, while Ricard Sanchez could feature at the back.
As for Girona, Borja Garcia, Joel Roca, Ricard Artero and Toni Villa will miss the contest through injury.
The hosts did not pick up any fresh issues against Las Palmas last time out, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field here.
Artem Dovbyk continues to fight for the starting role at centre-forward, but Cristhian Stuani has netted twice in the league this season and should retain his position.
Portu will be in the manager's thoughts for a spot in the first XI, having scored the late winner against Las Palmas, although he could again be asked to make an impact off the bench.
Granada possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Sanchez, Rubio, Miquel; Callejon, Melendo, Gumbau, Neva; Uzuni, Boye, Zaragoza
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; A Martinez, D Lopez, Blind, Gutierrez; Tsygankov, Herrera, A Garcia, Martin, Savio; Stuani
We say: Granada 1-1 Girona
Girona are certainly a team to watch this season, as it is not impossible to imagine them pushing for a top-six position due to the strength of their squad and impressive head coach. Granada have found it difficult to get going so far this season, but we are backing the hosts to secure a share of the spoils here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
