Real Valladolid, currently at the bottom of the table and already mathematically relegated from La Liga, is set to face Girona on Tuesday at 19:00, marking the penultimate game at their home ground, Zorrilla. For this match, Valladolid will be missing several key players.
Juric, Aidoo, Javi Sánchez, and David Torres have been left out of the squad, along with Luis Pérez, while promising young talent Alani has been included in the lineup. In light of the absence of Croatian midfielder Nikitscher, there are several options to fill in, including Amallah, Mario Martín, or Grillitsch, who could help organize play.
With a short preparation time before the match, changes in the starting lineup are expected, including the return of Sylla, who has served his suspension from the previous match against Mallorca. Candela is likely to move to the right-back position, leaving Luis Pérez out, while Cömert and Cenk will form the central defense, with Aznou on the left. Chuki appears to be a key player in the coach’s game plan.
Álvaro Rubio will choose the best starting eleven to face a Girona side that is fighting for survival in the league. Girona arrives with four points above the relegation zone and the positive news of coach Míchel Sánchez’s return after missing the last match due to health issues. Securing three points in Valladolid is crucial for Girona to further distance themselves from the relegation threat.
Failure to win at José Zorrilla would be a significant setback for Girona’s aspirations, especially given that Valladolid has struggled mightily this season, earning only one point out of a potential 48 in the second half of the season, with a dismal goal differential.
However, Girona has faced its own challenges during this period, recording just two victories, four draws, and ten losses in the second half of the season, resulting in an eleven-match winless streak. Despite this, they have shown glimpses of improvement in recent games with key players like Portu and Cristhian Stuani making an impact.
To address the losses of Ladislav Krejci and Yangel Herrera, Juanpe Ramírez and Oriol Romeu could return to the starting lineup, while Yáser Asprilla, Arnaut Danjuma, or Abel Ruiz may play if Portu and Stuani aren’t fully fit.
Míchel faces a challenging schedule with his team playing three matches in nine days, compounded by injuries to key players such as Donny van de Beek, Bryan Gil, Miguel Gutiérrez, and Gabriel Misehouy.
Projected lineups are as follows:
Real Valladolid: Ferreira; Candela, Cömert, Cenk, Aznou; Nikitscher, Amallah; Iván Sánchez, Chuki, Raúl Moro; Sylla.
Girona: Gazzaniga; Arnau, David López, Juanpe, Blind; Romeu, Arthur; Tsygankov, Iván Martín, Portu; Stuani.
Referee: Alejandro Quintero González (Andalusian committee).
This match presents a critical opportunity for both teams; for Valladolid, it’s a chance to end the season on a positive note despite relegation, while for Girona, it’s a vital match in their fight for survival in La Liga.