It is not the derby of a lifetime but it is a Catalan confrontation in style. It does not entail the historical quarrels of the Barça-Espanyol but it is no longer the match in which a giant receives a humble person with condescension. Tonight's Barça-Girona in Montjuïc is a glittering match that can cook up a thousand and one ingredients. This is a relevant meeting. For the Blaugrana team because it is at a crossroads. A victory would allow them to get behind the Montilivi team in the top zone and multiply their confidence, because they would also be two points behind Madrid. On the other hand, a defeat would bring all his demons to dance again. The pressure is on the Blaugrana. Because Girona, one of the sensations of European football, feels touched by a magic wand and has become a direct rival for Barcelona and Madrid. His victory would lead him to be the sole leader, to take seven points from Barça and to continue in an immense cloud of hope. Losing would not mean any drama for them.
Girona enjoys playing and Barça suffers while seeking to enjoy. Míchel's team is a strong visitor. They have not yet lost at home, where they have had six consecutive wins, and only Madrid was able to defeat them in the championship, but it was in Girona. With these statistics, those from Montilivi arrive at Montjuïc with their morale tank at its maximum. They have fun, play well and win. They have six more goals than Barcelona and their mentality is fantastic. They never give up. They receive goals and get up. They lose and come back, as they have won up to seven games. They feel in the moment of their life.
Against all this, a Barça that is sometimes like a coin tossed is measured. Against Porto in the second half and, above all, against Atlético, the Barcelona fans grew in self-esteem, and what is more important, in football. With Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gündogan moving the ball in the midfield, Barcelona's face is more similar to its eternal search for excellence. Xavi entrusts himself to this trio so that the team finally flows and acquires a line of regularity, in results and in the game.
This is also expected by his parish, which cannot be said to be enthusiastic about his team. The poor start against Atlético has set off alarm bells and this Sunday the presence of the Girona crowd will be very noticeable at the Estadi Olímpic. Something like the world upside down because when Barcelona has visited Montilivi in other times it could even seem like a small Camp Nou.
That has changed due to the growth of Girona, which boasts of Dovbyk, Sávio, Aleix Garcia and Eric Garcia on loan from Barcelona. How life smiles now on the central defender, who looked like a Blaugrana in the caboose. Girona can surprise in different ways and that forces Barça to foresee different scenarios. The influence of Míchel's team has reached that point, which becomes indecipherable for its rivals.
Xavi cannot count on Ter Stegen, Gavi, Iñigo Martínez or Marcos Alonso but he can count on the brave Ronald Araújo, who will play with a mask, and with Christensen, who already joined this Saturday after traveling to Denmark to attend the birth of his second child . Meanwhile, Míchel does not have Yangel Herrera, Borja or Pablo Torre, the latter due to the fear clause imposed by Barça. Girona has never beaten the Barcelona fans but in their last two visits they left with a draw. That was another Girona. Now it is quite a challenge for a Barcelona that wants to vindicate itself.
