Villarreal vs Girona predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as two competitive teams meet.
| Date | Sunday 22nd January 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 14:00 (CET) |
| Stadium | Ceramica |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Villarreal vs Girona Preview
Girona travel to the Ceramica for the first game on Sunday in LaLiga. It promises to be one of the games of the weekend as Quique Setien’s side target three points against the always entertaining Catalans.
It’s still tough to know exactly what to expect from Villarreal at the moment. Their last three games have produced an excellent win over Real Madrid in LaLiga and an excellent First Half against the same opposition in the Copa del Rey in midweek. However they let a 2-0 Half Time lead slip to lose that game and sandwiched between the two Madrid matches was a poor showing in the 1-1 draw at Celta where they only had 3 attempts on goal.
At the very least Setien can point to improvement from the opening stages of his reign but it’s looking like there will be more outgoings than incomings this month. Arnaut Danjuma and Nicolas Jackson both look set for Premier League moves. However the good news for followers of the Yellow Submarine is that Yeremy Pino and Samu Chukwueze both appear to be enjoying life under Setien and the same is certainly true of Gerard Moreno with the trio forming a strong front three.
This has the makings of a really good match as Girona are always a positive team and will look to play on the front foot as much as possible too. They are not only producing attractive football but they are getting results. It’s 7 unbeaten in LaLiga for Michel’s team with an excellent 2-1 home win against Sevilla last time out.
That came without their main striker Taty Castellanos but Cristhian Stuani is a very capable deputy and once again boasts a fine goalscoring rate with 5 goals from just 533 minutes of league action this term. There are areas Girona can certainly improve with the wait for a first clean sheet ongoing while their away record isn’t great, but overall this has been a very successful return to the top flight for the Catalans after 3 years in the second tier.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Villarreal
| INJURED | Lo Celso, Pedraza |
| DOUBTFUL | Jackson, Foyth, Femenia |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Reina – Moreno, Torres, Albiol, Foyth – Parejo, Capoue, Baena – Pino, Gerard Moreno, Chukwueze (4-3-3)
Coach: Quique Setien
Girona
| INJURED | Kebe, Reinier, David Lopez, Javi Hernandez |
| DOUBTFUL | Juanpe |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Bernardo, Bueno, Arnau – Herrera, Romeu, Aleix Garcia – Riquelme, Castellanos, Villa (4-3-3)
Coach: Michel
Score Prediction: Villarreal 3-2 Girona
This game has the potential to deliver plenty of goals with two teams who aren’t afraid to commit bodies forward and attack. There is no sign that Girona are going to shut up shop and start playing more cautiously at any point as their attacking approach is largely working so an open game is likely here but Villarreal may just edge it with Gerard Moreno in fine form up top.
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.
