Overview
With only three rounds left until the end of the season, Girona is currently only 2 points ahead of the relegation group after a 5-match winless streak since defeating Villarreal 1-0, with a record of 2 draws and 3 losses.
However, coach Michel's team still managed to get one point in the away match against Rayo Vallecano. In the match against his old team again, Michel witnessed Cristhian Stuani score the equalizer in the 90th minute, just 4 minutes after Alemao seemed to have brought victory to the home team.
Girona will return to Montilivi stadium with the goal of extending their stay in La Liga to a fourth consecutive season. However, the Catalan team is also facing the risk of suffering their third consecutive defeat at home.
The form at Montilivi this season is one of the reasons why Girona is in a difficult situation. They are owning the fourth worst home record in La Liga when they only won 22 points after 17 matches.
Girona's defense is also very disappointing as only two teams conceded more than their 52 goals. In attack, this team is also ineffective as only three clubs scored fewer home goals than Girona's 19 goals this season.
Head-to-head history also does not favor Girona as they have never defeated Real Sociedad at home in La Liga. However, the home team at Montilivi still has a basis for confidence after the 2-1 victory in the first leg in December.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad's season peaked when they defeated Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout to win their fourth Copa del Rey title in history, and also the first title directly witnessed by fans since the 1986-1987 season.
However, since the sublime night at Sevilla, Pellegrino Matarazzo's team has shown signs of stagnation when they have only won 2 points in the last four rounds of La Liga.
Real Sociedad lost to Getafe and Sevilla respectively, interspersed with a dramatic 3-3 draw with Rayo, before continuing to share points in a 2-2 draw against Real Betis.
In that match, Orri Oskarsson scored to narrow the score to 1-2 in the 79th minute before captain Mikel Oyarzabal successfully converted a penalty in injury time to keep one point for the home team at Anoeta.
This result also officially ended Real Sociedad's fragile hope of competing for a Champions League spot. Having won a ticket to the Europa League thanks to the Copa del Rey championship, the remaining goal of the Basque team is only to improve their position in the rankings in the last three rounds.
The away team also has reason to be confident before the away trip to Montilivi, as they have won two of their last three trips to Girona's stadium, including a 1-0 victory in their most recent confrontation in October 2024.
Personnel situation
Girona will be without Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Donny van de Beek, Cristian Portu and Vladyslav Vanat due to injury.
Meanwhile, Bryan Gil is eligible to return to the field after serving a one-match suspension for accumulating enough yellow cards.
On Real Sociedad's side, the away team continues to be missing Alvaro Odriozola due to a long-term injury, and the possibility of Igor Zubeldia and Goncalo Guedes playing is still undetermined.
Expected lineup:
Gazzaniga, Martinez, Frances, Reis, Moreno, Witsel, Martin, Tsygankov, Ounahi, Gil, Echeverri.
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aramburu, Martin, Caleta-Car, Gomez, Soler, Turrientes, Marin, Sucic, Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal.
The match between Girona and Real Sociedad takes place at 1:00 AM on May 15 (Vietnam time).
