La Liga: Girona vs Barcelona: Prediction, H2H and probable lineups — February 16, 2026
On Monday, February 16, one of the most anticipated matches of La Liga's 24th round will take place at the Montilivi Stadium in Girona. The local side, Girona, will host Barcelona. This is more than just a clash for points—it's a heated derby that has become one of Spain’s brightest fixtures in recent years.
Match preview
By mid-February, Girona have managed to climb out of the relegation zone, sitting in 14th place with 26 points and a game in hand over their rivals. In the previous round, on February 8, Michel’s men played out a 1-1 draw with Sevilla, thanks to a goal from Thomas Lemar. Recently, Girona have focused on defensive solidity: in their last 13 La Liga games, not a single match has featured more than three goals. The team’s main attacking threat now comes from the Ukrainian duo Viktor Tsygankov and Vladyslav Vanat, with Vanat looking to end his three-game goal drought. Girona traditionally play boldly at home and never shy away from facing the giants, so the visitors shouldn’t expect an easy ride.
Barcelona are going through a rough patch. On one hand, Hansi Flick's team are second in La Liga (58 points) and battling Real Madrid for top spot. On the other, just a few days ago, on February 12, the Blaugrana suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals. Flick must urgently get his squad back on track. The roster situation remains tricky: Pedri and Gavi are still sidelined, while the participation of Raphinha and Marcus Rashford is doubtful. However, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal are fit, and both are capable of deciding any game-changing moment.
Tactically, this promises to be a thrilling contest. Barcelona will aim for dominant possession, eager to redeem themselves after their cup fiasco. Girona are likely to opt for containment, looking to strike quickly down the flanks. In the reverse fixture, Barcelona came out on top, but at Montilivi, the raucous home support always levels the playing field. For the visitors, victory is crucial to stay in the title race and keep Real Madrid from widening the gap.
Probable lineups
Girona: Gazzaniga; Rincon, Reis, Blind, Martinez; Beltran, Martin; Tsygankov, Lemar, Gil; Vanat
Barcelona: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; E Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Fermin; Lewandowski
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the last five meetings, Barcelona have claimed three wins, while Girona have won twice
- Girona have lost just once in their last six encounters, but are winless in their last three
- Barcelona have won four of their last five matches, but suffered a heavy defeat to Atletico (0-4) in their most recent outing
Prediction
The history of this rivalry and the solid form of both clubs suggest there will be plenty of goals. My prediction: both teams to score – YES at 1.53
