A week after beating UD Las Palmas 2-0 at the Estadio Gran Canaria, Girona FC will host FC Barcelona in their bid to build on their momentum and end the season in style by clinching Champions League qualification. After securing their first ever berth in a European competition for next season, Míchel's side need just three points from their last five LALIGA EA SPORTS games to seal one of the four Champions League spots, meaning they could clinch Champions League football with a victory over their Catalan neighbours.
Meanwhile, after being dealt a major blow in ELCLASICO against Real Madrid, FC Barcelona bounced back with a 4-2 home victory over Valencia CF on Monday night. Los Blaugrana currently sit 11 points behind leaders Real Madrid, but they will look to keep pushing Los Blancos and will hope to ensure they finish second, which grants access to next season's Spanish Super Cup.
Girona FC's incredible campaign
The Catalan side hit the ground running this season by recording six wins and one draw in their first seven LALIGA EA SPORTS games of the season. Real Madrid ended their unbeaten run with a 3-0 win at the Estadi Montilivi in late September, but that was Girona FC's only loss in the first 23 league matchdays. Los Blanquivermells even managed to sit top of the table for a few weeks, but an equally impressive Los Blancos run saw Carlo Ancelotti's outfit establish themselves as league leaders after Matchday 18.
A drop in form saw Girona FC lose half of the eight games they disputed in February and March, but Míchel's side managed to retain their spot in the top four and are on the brink of Champions League qualification. Given that they hold 13-point lead over fifth-placed Athletic Club, they enter Matchday 34 knowing that they could secure their first ever ticket to this prestigious competition. Should Athletic Club lose at Getafe CF on Friday night then that would confirm it for Míchel's side. Otherwise, they could finish the job themselves by defeating Barça in front of their home fans on Saturday.
Barça bounce back after their ELCLASICO defeat
FC Barcelona have already mathematically secured their place in next season's Champions League, and enter Matchday 34 in second and two points ahead of Girona FC. As such, Los Blaugrana would currently join Athletic Club, RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid in next season's Spanish Super Cup, an important objective for the Catalan institution, as they've always qualified for this competition since the change to a four-team format.
It has been a rollercoaster season for FC Barcelona, who got off to a solid start by going unbeaten for their first 10 league games. However, two defeats to Real Madrid and Girona FC at the end of 2023 saw FC Barcelona drop to fourth in the standings. They did bounce back in the new calendar year and went on a nine-game unbeaten run to bring themselves within eight points of leaders Real Madrid, but a 3-2 defeat at the Bernabeu dealt a major blow to their title hopes.
In the following days, Xavi delivered some important news, as he reversed his decision to step down at the end of the season and decided he'd fulfil his contract, which ends in 2025. “The project is not finished, and I think it can be a winning one," he said. With that in mind, he and his players will hope to pick up as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.
Girona FC hope to repeat their emphatic victory
The first time FC Barcelona and Girona FC faced each other this season, Los Blanquivermells sent shockwaves around the world by pulling off an assertive display away at the Estadi Olímpic in mid-December. Míchel's men dominated from start to finish that night and dismantled a stunned FC Barcelona defence to grab an emphatic 4-2 victory.
That was Girona FC's first ever victory against Los Blaugrana, who had previously recorded four wins and two draws against their neighbours to the north in LALIGA EA SPORTS. On Saturday, Girona FC will have the opportunity to double their wins total over FC Barcelona and the chance to celebrate a historic Champions League qualification in front of their fans at the Estadi Montilivi.
