Girona and Real Oviedo meet at Estadio Municipal de Montilivi in a crucial early-season basement battle, with both clubs desperate to spark a turnaround after difficult starts to the La Liga campaign.
Match News and Current Form
Girona are already six points worse off than they were at this stage of last term after a poor start to the campaign which has left them propping up the table ahead of the round. They had looked to have steadied the ship by going undefeated in three La Liga games (W1, D2) before a 2-1 loss away to Barcelona last time out. Still, they should be confident of bouncing back at Montilivi where they could avoid defeat in three successive La Liga games for the first time since May 2004 here.
It’s been an equally tough start for league newbies Real Oviedo who are above their hosts on goal difference alone. Luis Carrión’s side have been plagued by attacking issues so far, failing to score in six of nine league games this season - more than any other team in the league. But while they have lost their last two league games, their last road trip delivered a 2-1 win away at Valencia, meaning they are now chasing back-to-back away successes in the top flight, something which has eluded Oviedo for over two decades.
Head-to-Head History
This is the first-ever top-flight meeting between Girona and Real Oviedo. In all competitions, Girona remain unbeaten in the last five H2Hs (W3, D2), while Oviedo’s last two trips to Girona ended in defeat.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Girona have failed to score more than one goal in ten of their last 11 home La Liga games.
Girona manager Míchel has not lost any of his seven competitive matches against Real Oviedo (W4 D3), his best such record against a single opponent without defeat.
Only three sides have picked up more yellow cards than Oviedo coming into the round (22).
Oviedo manager Carrión has lost all three of his away matches against Girona in all competitions.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Only two La Liga goalkeepers have made more saves than Girona’s Paulo Gazzaniga so far this season (31), while no player has picked up more La Liga yellow cards than Oviedo’s Luka Ilić coming into the round (four).
Girona's Arnau Martínez has been involved in a goal in each of his last two La Liga matches (G1, A1), but is a risk here having been forced off in the Barcelona game. Oviedo have no fresh injury concerns.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Girona have been on an upward trajectory despite their setback away to Barcelona, so we are backing them to sneak the win here in a low-scoring contest.
Author: David H