Barcelona make the short trip to Girona on Monday night looking to bounce back after enduring the worst defeat of the Hansi Flick era last time out against Atl\u00e9tico Madrid.<\/p>\n
On a night where nothing went right, Barcelona deservedly fell 4\u20130 to a dominant Atl\u00e9ti, all but ending their Copa del Rey title defense. It\u2019s a massive gut punch to Bar\u00e7a\u2019s season, but the Catalans must overcome the adversity and respond to reclaim top spot in La Liga from Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
Girona spent much of the first half of the season sitting in the relegation zone, but recent positive results have helped Michel\u2019s side surge to 15th in the standings. Still, Girona are just two points clear of the drop zone, and taking something from Barcelona\u2019s visit would be crucial in the tight relegation race.<\/p>\n
Regardless of Girona\u2019s ambitions, Flick\u2019s Bar\u00e7a are obligated to return home with all three points. With almost a full week of rest ahead of them for the first time in 2026, Barcelona will be eager to return to winning ways with a convincing performance on Monday.<\/p>\n
Injuries have ravaged Girona since the start of the term and the team now prepares to host Barcelona with a number of notable absences.<\/p>\n
Bar\u00e7a loanee Marc-Andr\u00e9 ter Stegen tore his hamstring two games into his Girona career. He\u2019ll join Donny van de Beek, Cristian Portu, Richard Artero and \u00c1lex Romero as notable injury casualties. Fran Beltran suffered a foot injury last time out and his status is uncertain for Bar\u00e7a\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n
Axel Witsel scored against Barcelona in the most recent meeting and could enter the XI to replace Beltran. Atl\u00e9tico Madrid loanee and former France international Thomas Lemar is also expected to get the nod in the No. 10 role.<\/p>\n
Man City loanee Claudio Echeverri still hasn\u2019t started a game for Girona since joining the club last month, but former Tottenham Hotspur man Bryan Gil will likely start on the left wing. At the back, Daley Blind will be tasked with organizing Girona\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n
Even after the thrashing Barcelona endured midweek against Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, wholesale changes to the XI aren\u2019t expected, with Flick taking no risks and aiming for an emphatic response.<\/p>\n
Injuries also play a role, with Pedri confirmed out. Marcus Rashford still hasn\u2019t returned to training as he deals with a knee issue. Raphinha was back on the grass on Saturday, but it might be too soon to expect the Brazilian to start.<\/p>\n
Dani Olmo is set to repeat on the left wing, with Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez through the middle. Marc Casad\u00f3 struggled massively midweek and it\u2019s likely fellow La Masia graduate Marc Bernal enters the lineup to partner Frenkie de Jong, adding some much needed physicallity to Bar\u00e7a\u2019s midfield.<\/p>\n
The rest of Barcelona\u2019s lineup could remain unchanged from what Flick deployed at the Metropolitano.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"