Espanyol vs Girona Prediction: Back the Home Team to Win

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Match Preview:

There's a Catalan derby to kick off the second half of the season in La Liga. Surprise package Espanyol will move to within a point of the top four if they see off Girona. 

Manolo González's side have been a revelation over the course of the opening 19 games. Their return of 34 points is only eight fewer than they picked up in all of last season. Increasingly, European qualification looks like a realistic objective for the Periquitos. 

They could only draw 1-1 at struggling Levante last time out. That was despite a brilliant strike from Carlos Romero, regarded by many as the best full-back in Spain so far this term. He has already registered four goals from the position, and Espanyol will be able to count on his services until the end of the season, when he will rejoin parent club Villarreal. 

Romero has been far from the only success story for Manolo's team. Pere Milla and Edu Expósito have had outstanding campaigns, while a number of summer buys have stepped up, with Marko Dmitrović and Tyrhys Dolan among those to have made an impact. 

This will be Espanyol's second Catalan derby in as many home games so far in 2026. They were brilliant in the last one, causing big problems throughout for leaders Barcelona, with only their ex-goalkeeper Joan García denying them in a match their rivals stole with two very late strikes. 

As for Girona, it has been a much more disappointing season, albeit one that is improving. That's not saying much given they kicked off in dismal fashion, with only one point and 15 goals conceded in their opening five matches. However, gradually Míchel has rebuilt a team that does look competitive again, with the Blanquivermells up to 13th by virtue of a 1-0 win over Osasuna last time out. 

They'd move into the top half with a win at the RCDE Stadium, which really would mark a stunning turnaround in their fortunes after they won just one of their opening 11 games. 

Continuity in terms of team selection has contributed to their climb up the table. Míchel has finally found a core group of eight or nine players that he trusts, after the spine of his successful 2023/24 team, which finished third, was ripped apart. 

This current crop still doesn't compare to the likes of Savinho and Aleix García, who excelled at Montilivi two years ago. However, Viktor Tsygankov is getting back towards his best level, while compatriot Vladyslav Vanat has done a decent job of leading the line following a deadline day move. 

They started the new year with back-to-back victories, with the two Ukrainians on target in a 2-1 victory at Mallorca, a week before a solitary Vanat strike saw off Osasuna. 

Team News: 

Espanyol were dealt a big blow this week with confirmation that Javi Puado has torn his ACL, which will see him miss the rest of the campaign. The 27-year-old was arguably his team's best outfield player last term, but Manolo's side did cope well without Puado in the final months of 2025, when he was sidelined with a different injury. 

Otherwise, the hosts are at full strength. Roberto Fernández is pushing for a recall up front, after he only made the bench at Levante. 

As for Girona, they are missing key midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who is injured and also still with the Morocco squad that has progressed into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, youngster Lass Kourouma is suspended, after he was sent off for his role in an angry clash at the end of last weekend's match. 

Axel Witsel is another notable injury absentee, with the ex-Atlético Madrid man a key part of this Girona team over the past few months. Portu, Abel Ruiz, Donny van de Beek and Juan Carlos are also sidelined.