Girona are set for what has been described by the Spanish press as a “life or loss of life sport” in opposition to Liverpool, after a 3-0 loss to Actual Madrid on Saturday.
Liverpool will head to Estadi Montilivi on Tuesday for his or her first-ever assembly with Girona, who’re themselves enjoying within the Champions League for the primary time this season.
The Spanish aspect, who’re a part of the Metropolis Soccer Group, loved their best-ever end in LaLiga final season as they emerged because the shock bundle of Spanish soccer.
However having completed third within the prime flight final time period, due to this fact incomes a spot within the Champions League, Michel’s aspect are feeling the results of a bloated fixture listing this time round.
Girona at the moment sit eighth and will drop even additional if Actual Sociedad take a end result in opposition to Leganes on Sunday, whereas in Europe they’ve gained one and misplaced 4 video games to this point.
Saturday night time noticed them endure a 3-0 defeat at dwelling to Actual Madrid, with objectives from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe.
That got here after a shock exit from the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, once they misplaced on penalties to fourth-tier aspect Logrones, who ended the tie with 10 males and an outfielder in purpose.
Supervisor Michel made 11 modifications from the aspect that misplaced to Logrones, restoring the lineup that’s more likely to begin in opposition to Liverpool.
That included acquainted faces in goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, midfielders Oriol Romeu and Donny van de Beek and winger Bryan Gil, all of whom have Premier League expertise.
Ex-Everton loanee Arnaut Danjuma got here off the bench in opposition to Actual Madrid, whereas Daley Blind was an unused substitute.
Michel’s aspect at the moment are on a run of 4 video games with no win, with Relevo describing Tuesday’s conflict with Liverpool as “life or loss of life.”
Their followers stay up for it, chanting “convey on the English” all through the loss to Actual, however the supervisor admitted that these high-profile fixtures have been proving “a bit an excessive amount of.”
“There are video games which are a bit an excessive amount of for us, like this one or some within the Champions League,” he informed reporters, together with Marca‘s Marc Bernad Suelves.
“That punishes you as a result of the gamers see that final 12 months they have been significantly better and this 12 months it’s not really easy.”
Michel added: “So many video games, in three competitions, is punishing us quite a bit.”
Girona vs. Actual Madrid (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Martinez, Lopez, Krejci, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu; Asprilla, Van de Beek (Portu 78′), Gil (Danjuma 58′); Miovski (Ruiz 58′)
Subs not used: Carlos, Lopez, Stuani, Juanpe, Frances, Blind, Misehuoy, Clua, Garcia
