Overview
Girona won 3-0 against Athletic Bilbao in their most recent home match in mid-March. However, they entered their international break after a 0-1 defeat to Osasuna.
Currently, the Catalan team is ranked 14th in the La Liga standings, 5 points ahead of the relegation zone, so there is still much work to be done to ensure a relegation spot.
Coach Michel's team has won 19 points after 14 home matches this season and will aim to avenge Villarreal after the 0-5 defeat in the first leg in August last year.
Girona has only won 5 of their last 18 encounters with Villarreal, and lost 0-1 in last season's encounter.
The last time the Catalan team defeated Villarreal was in September 2023, but they have never beaten the "Yellow Submarine" at home since December 2012.
Meanwhile, Villarreal entered the international break in March after a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad, thereby increasing the total number of wins to 5 in the last 8 rounds.
Coach Marcelino Garcia Toral's team is currently ranked third on the rankings with 58 points after 29 matches (18 wins, 4 draws, 7 losses).
Villarreal is one point ahead of Atletico Madrid and 14 points ahead of Real Betis, thereby taking a great advantage in the race to win a Champions League spot.
The "Yellow Submarine" also has the fourth best away record in La Liga this season with 21 points after 14 matches, including 6 wins.
Villarreal aims to finish the season in the top 3 - their best achievement since winning the runner-up position in the 2007-2008 season.
Personnel situation
Girona will be without the services of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ricard Artero, Bryan Gil, Juan Carlos, Portu and Donny van de Beek due to injuries in the last match.
Cristhian Stuani - who has been absent in the last 4 matches due to muscle problems - also needs to be checked before deciding his ability to play.
In the match against Osasuna before that, Thomas Lemar only came on as a substitute, but is likely to return to the starting lineup in this match.
On the other side of the front line, Villarreal is without Pau Cabanes, Logan Costa and Juan Foyth due to injury.
Ayoze Perez needs to be further assessed for his fitness after missing the match against Real Sociedad, and is likely to start from the bench.
Coach Marcelino Garcia Toral may keep the same squad as before, with Nicolas Pepe continuing to take charge of the right flank, while Gerard Moreno is likely to still lead the attack.
Expected lineup:
Girona: Gazzaniga, Rincon, Reis, Blind, Martinez, Beltran, Witsel, Tsygankov, Ounahi, Lemar, Vanat.
Villarreal: Junior, Mourino, Navarro, Veiga, Pedraza, Pepe, Comesana, Gueye, Moleiro, Moreno, Mikautadze.
The match between Girona and Villarreal took place at 2:00 a.m. on April 7 (Vietnam time).
