Girona vs Athletic Bilbao: prediction, head-to-head and probable line-ups – 14 March 2026
One of this round's La Liga fixtures will take place on Saturday in Girona at the Montilivi Stadium, where the local side Girona will host Athletic Bilbao. I’m going for a bet focused on goal output in this clash.
Match preview
Girona’s season has been far tougher than Catalan fans had hoped, with the team now glancing nervously over their shoulder. Last round’s 1-1 draw with Levante kept them just clear of the drop zone, but the hosts’ overall form remains shaky: only one win in their last seven league matches, and even at home, they rarely look truly confident.
Girona’s biggest issue is no secret – the defense. The team concedes far too often, and their home points tally is worse than most direct rivals, a worrying sign for any club fighting for survival. On top of that, Michel is dealing with a string of absences, so each fixture is less about controlling the game and more about surviving and snatching something from individual moments.
Athletic arrive in Catalonia after back-to-back defeats that have dampened their momentum. Ernesto Valverde’s men crashed out of the Copa del Rey against Real Sociedad and then narrowly lost to Barcelona in the league. Any further slip-up could seriously damage their hopes of a European return.
Still, despite this turbulence, Athletic’s competitive resilience shouldn’t be underestimated. The gap to sixth place is not yet critical, and this squad is capable of regrouping after setbacks. Much will depend on rotation and the condition of their attacking group, but the return of the likes of Sancet and Guruzeta should give the Basque side more edge in the final third.
Probable line-ups
- Girona: Gazzaniga, Rincon, Frances, Blind, Martinez, Witsel, Beltran, Tsygankov, Lemar, Roca, Vanat
- Athletic Bilbao: Simon, Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Berchiche, Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar, Inaki Williams, Sancet, Berenguer, Guruzeta
Match facts and head-to-head
- Girona have won only one of their last seven La Liga matches.
- Athletic come into this game after two straight defeats – to Real Sociedad in the Cup and to Barcelona in the league.
- The reverse fixture between these teams ended in a 1-1 draw.
Prediction
This is a meeting of two sides who have plenty of reasons to play cautiously. Girona can’t afford to open up due to their defensive woes, while Athletic are unlikely to throw caution to the wind after two straight losses, especially away to a team that knows how to make things scrappy. The logical bet here is “Under 2.5 goals”.
