UCL: Liverpool Visit Girona as Catalan Side Battles to Stay Afloat

Girona's Champions League campaign is on the brink of collapse. Can they recover against Liverpool?

Girona are set to host Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the Catalan side facing the daunting prospect of an impending European exit. Despite this, the match presents an opportunity for Girona to test themselves against one of the continent's top teams and potentially cause an upset.

Girona's coach, Michel Sanchez, had expressed his pride and excitement ahead of the team's Champions League debut, stating, “We have reached a place which was a dream for us, a dream that we must all enjoy.” However, the harsh reality of competing at this level has quickly set in, with Girona's results serving as a sobering reminder of the significant gap between themselves and Europe's elite.

Girona's struggles in the Champions League have been evident, with the team currently sitting in 30th place in the group table. Their record of four defeats from their opening five games, coupled with a single win, has made it clear that competing at the elite level of European football may be a challenge too great for Girona at present.

The remaining three matches for Girona are undoubtedly their most daunting, with the exception of their narrow 1-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the opening match. Following the visit of six-time European champions Liverpool, Girona will travel to Italy to face AC Milan, before hosting Arsenal in their final group match. Arne Slot's Liverpool are currently dominating both the English Premier League and Champions League tables, boasting an impressive record that includes recent victories over English champions Manchester City and Spanish champions Real Madrid. Notably, their win over Real Madrid marked their fifth consecutive Champions League triumph from five games.

Last season, Girona mounted a surprisingly strong challenge in the LaLiga title race, pushing eventual champions Real Madrid until the final stages of the campaign. In only their fourth season in the Spanish top flight, Michel Sanchez's side captivated audiences with their attractive brand of football, securing impressive victories over Barcelona, the reigning champions at the time.

However, Girona's limitations against the top-tier teams were exposed in their encounters with Real Madrid. They suffered two heavy defeats, losing 3-0 at home and 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, highlighting the gulf in class between the two sides. These losses proved to be a harbinger of the challenges that lay ahead, particularly after a significant overhaul of the squad during the summer transfer window.

The summer sales saw Girona part ways with several key starters, including target man Artem Dovbyk, playmaker Aleix Garcia, and winger Savinho. This forced coach Michel Sanchez to rebuild his team, incorporating new arrivals such as Bryan Gil, Abel Ruiz, and Donny van de Beek. However, it has taken time for these new signings to gel, and the team has also been severely impacted by injuries, further complicating their bid to replicate last season's success.

Despite their bleak prospects, Girona's coach, Michel Sanchez, remains resolute in his team's pursuit of progression. “We are not out of the Champions League, so we will have to keep fighting,” Sanchez emphasized, refusing to concede defeat in the face of adversity. This determination was evident even in the aftermath of their disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sturm Graz in November.

Girona's remarkable achievement in reaching the Champions League for the first time in their history is a testament to the team's growth and development. As part of the City Football Group, Girona has undoubtedly benefited from the connections, infrastructure, and resources provided by their parent organization. However, their ascent to the top tier of European competition is still a notable accomplishment, especially considering their relatively recent promotion to LaLiga in 2017, followed by relegation in 2019, and subsequent return to the top flight in 2022.

The upcoming visit of Liverpool, featuring stars like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, promises to be an unforgettable experience for Girona fans. Regardless of the outcome, the match will undoubtedly be a memorable occasion, as Girona faces off against one of the most successful English sides in the competition.