Girona host Mallorca on Friday night in La Liga, with both clubs trying to drag themselves clear of the relegation fight as the season enters its final stretch. Girona are 15th and four points outside the relegation zone, while Mallorca are 17th and only one point ahead of 18th-placed Sevilla.
For Girona, the margin for error is getting thinner. Michel’s side have taken one point from their last three league matches and go into this one after back-to-back defeats against Real Betis and Valencia. Mallorca arrive with slightly better recent form, having won three of their last five games, but they lost 2-1 to Alaves last time out after collecting seven points from their previous three matches.
These clubs know each other well. Girona and Mallorca have met 21 times, with Girona winning seven, losing nine and drawing five. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended 2-1 to Girona, which gives the home side a small psychological edge, even if the table suggests this is still very much a survival scrap.
Girona’s selection problems are significant. Alex Moreno is suspended, while Donny van de Beek, Abel Ruiz, Vladyslav Vanat, Juan Carlos and Portu are all out with injury problems. Alejandro Frances is expected to step in for Moreno, and Thomas Lemar is expected to keep his place in the side.
Mallorca have their own concerns. Lucas Bergstrom is unavailable through injury, while Antonio Raillo, Jan Salas, Marash Kumbulla, Mateo Joseph and Zito Luvumbo need to be assessed before kickoff. Manu Morlanes could replace Pablo Torre in midfield if the visitors decide to make a change.
The stakes are plain. Girona are trying to build enough of a cushion to make the rest of their run-in manageable, with Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid and Elche still to come. Mallorca are looking over their shoulder as well, with Villarreal, Getafe, Levante and Real Oviedo left on their schedule, and their away form offers little comfort — they have the worst record in the division on the road with six points from 16 matches.
This is what the final weeks of a relegation battle look like: two teams close enough to feel the pressure, and too inconsistent to feel safe. Girona may have the slightly better head-to-head record and the home crowd, but Mallorca’s need is immediate, and that often makes the difference in games like this.
