Real Betis make the trip to Girona on Sunday, to face a home side who are closing in on Champions League qualification following a stellar season on the domestic front. Betis have every chance of obtaining a result as they are also seeking a route back into European Football.
Date: 31/03/2024
Kick-off time: 3:15pm
Location: Estadi Montilivi
It’s fair to assume that Girona have exceeded expectations this season with their domestic performance. The home side entered the campaign with many experts predicting a mid-table finish for the team owned by the City Football Group. Opta statistics placed the home side in 11th place, however with less than ten games to go they look on course to record their highest ever finish in the club’s history.
Under the managerial tenure of Spanish coach Michel, the hosts are currently in third place after 29 games and 62 points obtained. A win over Real Betis would move the home side above Barcelona and into second place but still some way behind league leaders Real Madrid.
As for the visitors, Real Betis have also enjoyed a very respectable season. Los Verdiblancos have already tasted European Football this season having participated in the Europa League and the Europa Conference League respectively. Betis finished third in a group behind Rangers and AC Sparta Prague and were eliminated by Dinamo Zagreb in the secondary competition.
In the league, Betis still have every chance of qualification for the Europa Conference League spot. The away side are currently in 7th place, four points adrift of sixth placed Real Sociedad. However, they do have a far inferior goal difference to the team above.
As it stands in the league rankings, 7th placed Real Betis would miss out on European competition. However, this factor relies on the result of the Copa Del Ray final. If Athletic Bilbao win the trophy and retain fourth spot, then the last remaining spot would be awarded to the team in the spot Betis currently occupy. Although, if Mallorca were to win and considering they would have no chance of making the top six, Betis would miss out.
The two sides squared off against each other only once this season and it finished 1-1. The visitors in the corresponding fixture were minutes away from an important win but Germán Pezzella rescued a point for Real Betis. The Argentine’s goal cancelled out Artem Dovbyk’s first half penalty.
History does suggest the away side have the mental advantage over Girona. The two sides have faced each other on no less than 13 occasions. Los Verdiblancos have won ten of the 13 meetings, drawing twice and losing once. Interestingly the last time Girona recorded a victory over Real Betis was in 2010. Both teams at that point were in the second tier of Spanish football and the game finished 1-0 to Girona thanks to a goal from former Sevilla defender David Canas.
Primera División 
