PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Girona
Back again at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for FC Barcelona. It's only been three days since the rescheduled matchday 27 game against Osasuna, and this time the visitors are Girona to play the matchday 29 LaLiga fixture.
Hansi Flick's side will be hunting down another win – to make it nine in a row in the domestic league – and to continue outright league leaders. No easy task as Míchel's side won the same fixture last season on Montjuïc, and albeit the team is somewhat different this season, they will be wanting to go home with the three points to push themselves further from the relegation places.
Important to keep the run going
Barça are going well at the moment, with the eight consecutive LaLiga wins testament to just that. It equals the best run in the competition since the 2018/19 season when Ernesto Valverde was coach. This means a win against Girona would better that record by one.
Robert Lewandowski is currently in great form in attack, having scored against Osasuna to make it 23 goals in 27 games in LaLiga. It's the highest total for a blaugrana player at this stage of the season since Leo Messi's 23 goals in the 20/21 season.
An opponent in need of points
Girona are having a bit of a difficult season in some ways. The 23/24 season was outstanding, finishing third, meaning they played in the Champions League for the first time this season. There has been a bit of a drop off in LaLiga though, and they need the points to keep themselves clear of the teams below them in the table.
In fact, Girona haven't won any of their last six LaLiga games, losing three before drawing the last three. All the same, Michel's side can win on Montjuïc, as they did last season, and the coach has actually only lost one of his last four league games against Barça, the 1-4 at Montilivi earlier this season.
The final run-in begins
There are ten games to go in LaLiga, with the first this weekend against Girona. FC Barcelona know that any mishaps could prove costly so its really a question of having to win.
The game after Girona will see Real Betis visit Montjuïc too. However, it's not just the league that is drawing to a close, there's the Copa del Rey and the Champions league too.
The return leg against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitan stadium comes on 2 April, with the winners going through to the Copa del Rey final. Then after the Real Betis game, the Champions League quarterfinals begin, with Borussia Dortmund the visitors in the first leg on 9 April. The return leg follows on 15 April, but there's also an away trip to Leganés on 12 April in between. It's non-stop from now on in!