Girona – Mallorca
Girona are just one point away from free fall – and they need to get something out of Monday evening’s game against Mallorca. The Catalans are neck-deep in the relegation battle after picking up just five points from their last eleven league games, while the Balearic Islanders are still harbouring faint hopes of European football in tenth place with 44 points. The head-to-head record adds extra spice to the encounter: Mallorca have won three of the last five meetings, most recently a 2-1 victory in December, but Girona have scored in each of those games. While the hosts are missing creative spirit Bryan Gil, Mallorca will have to do without their attacking quartet of Muriqi, Morlanes, Navarro, and Asano – serious losses for both sides. Because, according to local media, every game at Montilivi is now a final, the atmosphere could provide more of a boost than any tactical plan this time around.
Girona – Mallorca info
- Venue: Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, Girona
- Date and time: May 5, 2025, 9:00 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 34)
Girona form & record check
Eleven league games without a win, most recently a bitter 1-1 draw in Leganés after a late equalizer – the picture for Girona is sobering. In the last five games, the team has suffered four defeats and one draw without scoring before the break. At least they scored after the break in four of those games, but they conceded just as reliably. 80% of the games ended with over 1.5 goals, mostly to the detriment of Míchel’s team. The absence of Bryan Gil robs the attack of creativity, while the defense is struggling to maintain a lead. A three-point lead over Las Palmas seems slim, but the coach continues to insist on “unity and courage” – Montilivi is to be the team’s lifeline.
Míchel is likely to field a 3-4-3 formation again against Girona: Gazzaniga; David López, Krejčí, Blind; Arnau Martínez, Arthur, Y. Herrera, Miguel Gutiérrez; Tsygankov, Portu; Stuani. Gutiérrez was injured but should be fit in time. Abel Ruiz returns to the bench, while Bryan Gil remains sidelined. As usual, the game plan is to focus on quick attacks down the wings and winning the ball early in midfield.
Mallorca form & record check
Mallorca are also inconsistent, with three defeats in five games, most recently a narrow 0-1 loss in Barcelona. The only bright spot was a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad. Remarkably, none of these games saw more than one goal before the break, with the total number of goals remaining below 2.5 on four occasions. Without Muriqi, Morlanes, Navarro, and Asano, the team lacks almost any punch in the final third. With 44 points, the islanders are in tenth place, close behind Osasuna and Real Sociedad, but without any offensive alternatives, they are in danger of slipping into the gray midfield. Defensively solid, offensively toothless—that’s Mallorca in a nutshell at the moment.
Mallorca will probably start in a 5-4-1 formation: Rajković; Lato, Copete, Raíllo, Valjent, Sánchez; Mascarell, Samú Costa, Darder, Dani Rodríguez; Larin. Darder remains the playmaker, with Larin replacing the absent Muriqi as the target man. Due to the personnel situation, major experiments are unlikely, but Arrasate could make offensive adjustments as the game progresses if the one-way traffic continues.
H2H Girona – Mallorca Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The last five head-to-head matches have provided plenty of entertainment: no draws and at least three goals in four of them. Mallorca won the last three encounters, with Girona winning the two before that – including a spectacular 5-3 victory in September 2023. Both teams scored in every game, with Mallorca’s run of five consecutive games with a goal against Girona highlighting the Catalan defense’s shortcomings. Over 2.5 goals in this match is over 80%, which once again points to an offensive focus despite all the personnel worries.
