Girona vs Elche predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as the visitors target just their third win of the season.
| Date | Sunday 16th April 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 14:00 (CEST) |
| Stadium | Montilivi |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Girona vs Elche Preview
Girona and Elche meet in the opening game this Sunday in LaLiga. The hosts will see this as a good opportunity to put three points on the board that would all but guarantee their status as a top flight club for next season.
To reach that point with 9 games still to play would be a fantastic achievement for a Girona side that had spent the previous three years in the second tier. They’ve been the most convincing of the promoted sides from the off this season and they have a decent chance of a top half finish now with even 7th place and a potential crack at the Conference League not too far out of sight.
Michel probably won’t be thinking too much about that and defensively they probably aren’t quite strong enough to compete for that with only five teams in LaLiga having inferior defensive records, including their opponents here. That being said, Girona have shown an ability to be flexible and a bit more pragmatic at times and they dug in deep to get an excellent 0-0 draw in the derby at Camp Nou on Monday, ensuring they come into this match unbeaten in three league outings.
As for Elche, the game has long been up and they once again feel like a side that doesn’t know where their next point is going to come from. They have just 13 of those, 14 fewer than the next worst team in the Spanish top flight and their relegation will most likely be confirmed in the coming weeks.
It’s an all but impossible job that Sebastian Beccacece has when it comes to trying to lift these players and you can only assume he has been appointed with an eye towards next season. However these final nine games may seem like an eternity for the Argentine and his players. They were actually ahead last weekend at Osasuna heading into the final 20 minutes, but Abde Ez struck twice for the Pamplona side to condemn Los Franjiverdes to their 19th league defeat of a miserable season.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Girona
| INJURED | Kebe, Herrera |
| DOUBTFUL | Callens |
| BANNED | Reinier |
Possible XI: Gazzaniga – Hernandez, Lopez, Bueno, Arnau – Aleix Garcia, Romeu, Ivan Martin – Villa, Castellanos, Tsygankov (4-3-3)
Coach: Michel
Elche
| INJURED | Carmona |
| DOUBTFUL | |
| BANNED | Fidel |
Possible XI: Badia – Clerc, Bigas, Mascarell, Palacios – Gumbau, Guti – Blanco, Milla, Morente – Boye (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Sebastian Beccacece
Score Prediction: Girona 3-1 Elche
Girona are the fourth highest scorers in LaLiga and up against the division’s worst team and worst defence, their attacking players should have another fruitful afternoon. Key man Aleix Garcia should be fit to start in midfield too and they ought to seal three points, although an away goal is a possibility, particularly with Pere Milla back in the fold for Elche after his recent injury.
PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
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