Both are looking for the first point of theirs Champions League Campaign, Girona And Slovak Bratislava meets on Tuesday evening at the Estadi Montilivi.

Slovan is in second-to-last place for the giant League phase tablewhile the hosts have also lost twice, proving to be their worst enemy both times.

Game preview

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After Paulo GazzanigaAn own goal cost them a point on their Champions League debut against Paris Saint-Germain, then Girona came away empty-handed in their first home game in Europe’s top club competition earlier this month.

MichelFeyenoord’s men were beaten 3-2 at the Estadio Montilivi, with missed penalties and own goals making the difference in an eventful game: Yangel Herrera And Ladislav Krejci both put the ball into their own net while Gazzaniga stopped a penalty at one end and Bojan Miovski I missed one in the other.

Girona have therefore scored three own goals in two games so far – already the highest total by any team in a single season – and they are in danger of becoming the first Spanish team to suffer defeat in each of their first three Champions League games must .

The Catalan club isn’t doing much better in La Liga, picking up a modest 12 points from their first 10 games to finish in 13th place the table.

After Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Real Sociedad, they have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions and just three of 12 so far this season.

All of this largely eclipses last season’s exploits, so Michel will be keen to get back on track by winning Girona’s first ever meeting with their next opponents.

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Slovan Bratislava will arrive in Catalonia without a win in their last six games against Spanish sides since beating Barcelona 2-1 in the 1969 Cup Winners’ Cup final – their only major European triumph to date.

Most recently, after surviving qualification, the Slovakian team started the current Champions League campaign with a 5-1 defeat at Celtic, followed by another four-goal defeat a few weeks later.

manager Vladimir White – in his second spell at the club – saw Slovan Beaten 4-0 by Premier League champions Manchester City Last time out they conceded two goals on either side of the break.

They have now lost all of their last five games in UEFA group or knockout stages – conceding 16 goals and scoring just three goals – and their latest data also shows that securing one of the To secure playoff places in this year’s league phase.

Slovan have taken 33 more shots than they have attempted in the first two games – the worst shot differential of any team – while only Sparta Prague has a possession average lower than their modest 31% share.

They haven’t proven to be dangerous in the final third either: Austrian defender Kevin Wimmerwho scored at Celtic Park, joins the experienced midfielder as one of only two players to have had a shot on target so far Juraj Kucka.

Back in the Slovakian first division, the Sky Blues beat Spartak Trnava 1-0 in a derby at the weekend to retain top spot the table. In 22 games this season they have only lost three times, but have conceded four or more goals each time.

Girona Champions League form:

Girona form (all competitions):

Slovan Bratislava Champions League form:

Slovan Bratislava form (all competitions):

Team news

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Girona’s long absence list includes several notable names ahead of Tuesday’s crucial game, including: Viktor Tsygankov, Daley Blind And Oriol Romeu There is also a summer signing Yaser Asprilla on the edge.

Pau Lopez And Bryan Gil are also unavailable as Michel’s squad gets closer to its bare bones, but ex-Braga striker Abel Ruiz should be able to play a role at some point.

Bojan Miovski will lead the hosts’ attack, supported by the Dutch duo Donny van de Beek And Arnaut Danjumawhile David Lopez leads the defense: the latter not only scored the opening goal against Feyenoord, but also recovered the ball 12 times – more than a defender in a single Champions League game this season.

Meanwhile, Slovan Bratislava will notably miss influential playmaker Juraj Kucka, who has just returned to training after knee surgery last month.

Croatian star Marko Tolic should therefore play a key role behind the lone striker David Strelecwith Vladimir Weiss Jr – Son of the visitor manager – supported from outside.

Captain of Georgia Guram Kashia will form the heart of Slovan’s defense, with former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Kevin Wimmer as his partner.

Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; A. Martinez, D. Lopez, Krejci, Gutierrez; Martin, Herrera, Solis; Van de Beek, Danjuma; Ruiz

Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:
Takac; Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, Sharani; Bajric, Savvidis; Barseghyan, Tolic, Weiss Jr; Strelec

We say: Girona 2:1 Slovan Bratislava

Despite Girona struggling with injuries and inconsistent form, they should still prevail on home soil against one of the Champions League’s more modest opponents.

Slovan are certainly the best team in Slovakia at the moment, but their defensive deficiencies become even more apparent on the European stage.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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