As the 2024-25 La Liga season unfolds, a tantalizing clash awaits fans as Atlético Madrid hosts Girona at the Civitas Metropolitano on August 25, 2024.
Both teams, who finished in the top four last season, are eager to secure their first victories of the new campaign, setting the stage for an exciting encounter.
Match Preview
Atlético Madrid kicked off their season with a challenging 2-2 draw against Villarreal, showcasing their ability to fight back after trailing on two occasions.
Goals from Marcos Llorente and Alexander Sorloth were key to earning a point at El Madrigal.
Known for their formidable home form under Diego Simeone, Atlético has lost just two of their last 19 league matches at home, making them a tough opponent for any visiting team.
This matchup holds added significance for Atlético, as they finished five points behind Girona in the previous season’s standings and will be eager to assert their dominance.
Girona, meanwhile, also began their season with a draw, holding Real Betis to a 1-1 stalemate despite controlling 61% of possession.
A goal from Gabriel Misehouy equalized for Girona after an early strike from Marca Bartra put Betis ahead.
Girona’s strong finish to last season has translated into solid form, as they have lost only one of their last eight La Liga matches.
Last season was particularly memorable for Girona, having recorded their highest-ever points total with 25 wins and 85 goals scored.
Head to Head
Historically, Atlético Madrid has had the upper hand in this matchup, winning four of their last five league meetings with Girona.
Three of those victories came at home, with the last encounter resulting in a 3-1 win for Atlético.
The matches between these two sides have been high-scoring affairs, with a total of 19 goals scored across their last six encounters, averaging an impressive 3.2 goals per game.
Team News
Atlético Madrid will be without new signing Conor Gallagher, who arrived from Chelsea but is sidelined due to injury.
Girona faces a more challenging situation, as they will be missing several key players, including Ricard Artero, Valery, Garcia Jastin, and Viktor Tsygankov, all due to injuries.
Prediction
Given Atlético Madrid’s historical dominance and strong home form, we predict a high-scoring affair.
However, Girona’s recent resilience and attacking capabilities suggest they will pose a serious threat, making a draw a plausible outcome.
- Score Prediction: Atlético Madrid 2-2 Girona
Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score – Yes: With both teams capable of finding the net, this bet is likely to yield a positive result.
Over 2.5 Goals: Given the attacking prowess and historical scoring trends of both teams, betting on over 2.5 total goals is a wise choice.
Draw: Considering both teams are evenly matched and have shown signs of resilience, a draw could be a favorable bet.
Sorloth to Score Anytime: If he takes the field, betting on Sorloth to find the back of the net could provide good odds, given his recent form.