(Football news) In La Liga this season, Girona has been the unexpected winner, amassing 38 points from 15 games to tie leaders Real Madrid for second place in the standings. Barcelona, in this weekend’s intriguing match, is fourth in the standings, four points behind their opponents. 

Xavi’s team put on a great display to defeat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in La Liga last weekend. Joao Felix, an Atletico Madrid forward on loan, scored the game’s lone goal in the opening half. As expected, Barcelona was under pressure to win.

With 15 league games played this season, the incumbent champions have a record of 10 victories, 4 draws, and 1 loss. With 34 points, they are in third place in the standings, four points behind both Girona in second place and Real Madrid in first place.

Although head coach Xavi has come under fire this season, he has managed to guide the squad into the Champions League knockout phase, thus the La Liga powerhouses will have no pressure going into their matchup with Royal Antwerp in Belgium the following week.

Prior to the winter break, Barcelona has three league games left against Girona, Valencia, and Almeria. The importance of Sunday’s encounter cannot be understated, as the champions do not want to slip further behind the top two at this crucial point in the season.

Girona and the hosts have faced off in seven previous meetings, with the home team emerging victorious five times. However, the points were split in a goalless draw at Camp Nou in the previous season, and Girona also picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at their rival’s stadium in the 2018–19 campaign.

Girona has had an incredible season, winning 12 of their 15 league games, drawing 2, and losing 1 to earn 38 points. Despite this, they are currently ranked second behind Real Madrid because of their worse head-to-head record against Los Blancos.

With 34 goals, six more than Barcelona, Michel’s team leads the league in scoring this season. However, they have shipped 18 goals, which is tied for most among the top eight.

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