Espanyol take on the visitors Girona in the round 27 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Monday, March 10th at RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat).
Espanyol improved their position by the end of winter. The Parakeets have always lived in the shadow of their illustrious neighbors, but that doesn’t mean they lack ambition or achievements of their own. Not too long ago, the Barcelona-based club was competing in European tournaments. However, in recent years, Espanyol has turned into something of a yo-yo team, bouncing between La Liga and the Segunda División. It took a hard-fought fourth-place finish and a successful playoff campaign under Manolo González to earn promotion back to the top flight. On the other hand, the club once again managed to secure an immediate return after relegation. Unsurprisingly, they were bracing for a tough relegation battle upon their return to La Liga. For a long time, it seemed inevitable that they would finish among the bottom three, perhaps even before the final rounds of the season. However, their form has significantly improved since the winter break. Apart from a single defeat to Real Sociedad, they have secured several crucial victories—including a shocking 1-0 win over Real Madrid. Last weekend, their scheduled match against Villarreal was postponed due to heavy rain, giving the squad an unexpected break, which could be an advantage ahead of this fixture.
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Girona are only in their third consecutive season in La Liga and just their fifth in history. However, last season, they stunned everyone by securing an incredible third-place finish. Naturally, fans were hoping the team could maintain this level, especially with Michel Sánchez and his staff staying on. But with key departures in the summer, many experts predicted a regression. Unfortunately for Girona, that regression has been harsh. Their Champions League debut turned into a disaster, with the team losing seven matches—winning only once, against the modest Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava. Their Copa del Rey campaign ended in embarrassment, as they were knocked out by lower-division UD Logroñés on penalties—where a defender, forced to play as an emergency goalkeeper, became the hero for the underdogs. La Liga has been slightly better, but they have still lost five of their last seven matches. In their most recent game, Viktor Tsyhankov contributed a goal and an assist, but it was only enough for a 2-2 home draw against Celta Vigo. Adding to their struggles, their away form has been concerning, with just one victory in their last seven road games.
In the last five meetings between these Catalan rivals, Girona has dominated, dropping points just once in a draw. Earlier this season, despite their struggles, they cruised to a 4-1 home win over Espanyol. Despite Girona being labeled as favorites, this seems like an overestimation. Espanyol has been in much better form lately and should be capable of avoiding defeat in this match.
Prediction for the match: Espanyol not to lose (1X),
