Girona vs Liverpool

Estadio Municipal de Montilivi sets the stage for the first-ever UEFA Champions League meeting between Girona and Liverpool. 

Sat in 30th in the 36-team table after only winning one of their first five matches in the Champions League main draw (L4), Girona’s hopes of securing knockout qualification seem to be waning ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Catalonia. Michel’s side must punch above their weight to get their faltering league-phase journey back on track in their first-ever encounter against English opposition, only days after suffering a dismal 3-0 home La Liga defeat to Real Madrid. That result extended Girona’s winless streak in all competitions to four matches (D1, L3), with each loss seeing them fail to get on the scoresheet. By extension, the Spaniards have suffered ten defeats this season, already two more than they had in the whole of 2023/24, highlighting a lack of confidence around the home camp.

In contrast to Girona’s woeful patch, Liverpool’s outstanding start under new manager Arne Slot sees the club topping the Premier League and Champions League tables. Despite a heartbreaking 3-3 league draw at Newcastle United, the Reds head into proceedings in high spirits having avoided defeat in 20 of their 21 competitive games under the Dutch coach (W18, D2, L1). Five of those 18 victories came on the continental front, making the Merseyside powerhouse the only side at Europe’s top table to have won all five league-phase outings this term! However, Liverpool can’t afford to underestimate their upcoming rivals, considering they’ve lost seven of their last ten away matches against Spanish clubs (W2, D1).