Barcelona — Girona : Match Preview and Prediction for October 18,2025

Barcelona’s Recent Form and Squad Update

Barcelona approaches this Catalan derby reeling from two consecutive defeats, making the international break a much-needed respite for Flick’s squad. Prior to the pause, the Blaugrana suffered a stunning 1-2 defeat to PSG in a captivating Champions League fixture at home. They were then thoroughly outplayed by Sevilla (1-4) at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, struggling with rotation limitations due to key player injuries amidst a packed schedule. For the Girona clash, Barcelona will be without Lewandowski, Raphinha, Olmo, Gavi, Garcia, and Ter Stegen. However, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez are back in contention, and much of Barcelona’s offensive strategy will be built around them. Given that their opponents also face a significant list of absences, the hosts have a prime opportunity to use this derby to reignite their winning momentum in the league.

Girona’s Form and Squad Challenges

Girona’s season has gotten off to a challenging start, with increasing media speculation surrounding manager Michel’s position. Their struggles began last season with squad overhauls and a significant injury crisis, and the current campaign has brought little improvement. For the match against Barcelona, Girona will be without Van de Beek, Martin, Artero, Frances (due to suspension), Juan Carlos, and Ounahi. While Viktor Tsygankov and Abel Ruiz are listed as having returned to the squad, their match fitness might still be a concern, alongside Romero who remains doubtful. These absences are particularly significant for a squad of their depth.

Despite these setbacks, the team did manage to clinch their first league win just before the international pause – a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home against Valencia, extending their unbeaten streak to three matches (following 1-1 draws with Athletic Bilbao and 0-0 with Espanyol). However, they now face the formidable Barcelona, and the recent break may have disrupted their rediscovered rhythm.