Girona FC vs Villarreal CF Best odds and tips

Girona FC are 15th in La Liga with 38 points from 34 matches and have endured a tough season of struggle while Villarreal CF are 5th with 58 points and are pushing hard for European qualification. The two clubs have split the last three La Liga head-to-head meetings, with one win each and a 2-2 draw at the Estadio de la Ceramica earlier this season. Girona boss Michel has done a good job to keep the club in the top-flight since taking over in July 2021, but he could not have hoped for much more than a bottom-half finish this term. His side are in mixed form, having won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five La Liga matches. Villarreal are in much better shape, winning three, drawing one and losing one of their last five La Liga matches, including back-to-back victories. Marcelino Garcia has brought a winning mentality and tactical discipline to the club since taking over in November 2023 and has inspired his players to play some excellent football.

Both clubs play free-flowing attacking football with a physical edge and a desire to press and win the ball in midfield. Girona are more direct and can be a little more tenacious in the tackle, but Villarreal are more technically gifted and creative in the final third. Donny van de Beek is a good example of the type of player Girona play with, while Cristhian Stuani is Girona’s talisman. The veteran Uruguayan striker has scored nine La Liga goals this season, including three of his side’s last four, and will be the main threat to the Villarreal defence on Saturday. Ayoze Perez leads the line for Villarreal and has scored 16 La Liga goals this season, including four in their last five, while Nicolas Pepe has been a creative spark for them with three assists in the same period. Villarreal are the favourites for this clash at 2.225, which is a lot shorter than Girona’s 3.30 and the visitors’ superior form and motivation to secure a European place should see them edge it.

Villarreal have won one and lost one of their last two away La Liga matches and Girona have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five matches, so the visitors can get the win they need to secure a top-five finish. Girona’s only win in their last three home games was a narrow 1-0 victory over struggling Mallorca and with both sides preferring to attack, the ‘Both Teams To Score’ market at 1.56 looks like a good bet.