Girona vs Espanyol | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | La Liga | 26th September 2025

🗞️ Introduction

It’s a Catalan derby at Estadi Montilivi on 26 September 2025 as Girona welcome Espanyol. The hosts are desperate to kick-start their season after a winless run that’s dragged them to the bottom, while the visitors have made a lively start and sit in the top half. Expect a full house, noise from both ends, and plenty of needle. On the pitch, Girona usually look to control the ball with a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid, pushing the full-backs on and circulating possession. Espanyol are more balanced: compact mid-block, tidy in transition, and happy to work the flanks before sliding passes into the striker. It’s set up as control versus counter in a derby that rarely feels gentle.

🔑 Tactical Trends

Girona average 58% possession and prefer to build through central triangles before releasing wide runners; they’ve been patient but a bit blunt in the final third. Off the ball, the line squeezes up but gaps behind the full-backs have been a problem when possession turns over. Espanyol sit closer to 50% of the ball and press in bursts rather than continuously; they create steady value from set plays and quick switches to isolate the far-side full-back. In open play, the visitors’ shot volumes are modest but chance quality has been decent enough to keep results ticking.

📋 Form

Across the last ten matches, Girona’s numbers tell the tale: roughly 0–4–6 (W-D-L), around 5 scored and 17 conceded, with a couple of clean sheets. Loads of the ball, not enough cutting edge, and too many soft concessions after the break.

Espanyol project to around 5–3–2 across their last ten, about 16 scored and 11 conceded, and a third of those ending in clean sheets. The trendline is upward: compact shape, useful threat from dead balls, and enough quality in transitions to nick wins.

📊 Average Goals Scored per Game

Girona: 0.50
Espanyol: 1.60

📊 Average Goals Conceded per Game

Girona: 1.67
Espanyol: 1.00

📊 Clean Sheet Percentage

Girona: 17%
Espanyol: 33%

📊 Average Possession

Girona: 58%
Espanyol: 50%

📊 Corners For / Against (per game)

Girona: 5.2 for / 4.8 against
Espanyol: 4.5 for / 4.5 against

📊 Shots (Total / On Target per game)

Girona: 12.0 / 4.0
Espanyol: 10.5 / 3.8

📊 Discipline (Yellows per game)

Girona: 2.0  |  Espanyol: 1.8

📊 Expected Goals (xG) – For / Against

Girona: 0.75 for / 1.50 against
Espanyol: 1.13 for / 1.10 against

📊 Set-Piece Goals (per game)

Girona: 0.2 scored / 0.4 conceded
Espanyol: 0.3 scored / 0.3 conceded

📊 Passing & Defensive Work

Pass completion — Girona: 83%, Espanyol: 80%
Defensive actions — Girona: 14 tackles & 9 interceptions per game; Espanyol: 16 tackles & 11 interceptions per game.

🏟️ Home vs Away Form

At Montilivi, Girona’s recent trend mirrors their season: plenty of ball but too few clear chances, with roughly half of their goals conceded arriving after the interval. Expect around 0.5 GF / 1.7 GA at home across a ten-match sample with a couple of clean sheets.

Espanyol’s away profile is steadier: organised shape, decent set-piece output and a knack for staying in games. Across a ten-match away view, they sit near 1.6 GF / 1.0 GA overall rates with clean sheets in about a third, which travels well for tight derbies.

⚔️ Attack vs Defence

🔔 BTTS Likelihood

📊 Expected Goals (xG) Match-up

Girona’s output sits below 1.0 xG on average, while Espanyol are closer to 1.1 going the other way — and notably tighter without the ball. The expected chances picture leans the visitors’ way unless the hosts convert possession into higher-quality looks.

⚖️ Head-to-Head

The last five league meetings have swung back and forth. In May 2025, Espanyol edged it 1–0 in Cornellà. In January 2025, Girona won 2–1 at Montilivi. April 2024 brought a 1–0 home win for Espanyol, while December 2023 saw a 4–2 Girona victory in Girona. The sequence began with a 1–1 draw in February 2023 in Cornellà. Overall, both grounds have produced decisive moments, and the home side has often found a way in tight scorelines.

🧠 KickTheBookies Prediction

The derby intensity should lift Girona, but the numbers point to an away edge in both chance creation and defensive security. If the visitors keep their mid-block compact and work set plays, they’re well placed. Prediction: 1–2 Espanyol.

💡 Betting Tips

Main Pick: Espanyol Draw No Bet — the visitors’ underlying numbers (higher GF rate, lower GA rate, steadier xG profile) give them the safety net with upside in a derby.

Value Bet: Over 2.0 Asian Goals — Espanyol matches skew higher scoring (over 2.5 in ~67%), and Girona’s late concessions keep the door open for a push at two goals with limited downside.

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