Girona Aims for Consecutive Home Wins Against Real Sociedad

After the international break, the league resumes, with Girona scheduled to host Real Sociedad at Montilivi. The Girona team is determined to maintain their winning momentum at home in order to establish the stadium as a stronghold. In their recent match against Athletic Club, players Pablo Gazzaniga and Cristhian Stuani were pivotal in securing a vital victory, a feat they hope to replicate despite facing eight significant lineup absences against a Real Sociedad team that has shown improvement since the start of the season.

Real Sociedad, who had a 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid and a 3-0 win against Valencia in their last two outings, currently sit 15th in the league with nine points. They have scored seven goals, making them the fifth-lowest scoring team in the Primera División, while also being the fourth-least conceded, trailing only Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Getafe in defensive statistics.

The notable figure at Real Sociedad is manager Imanol Alguacil, who has been at the helm for eight seasons. Throughout his tenure, he has led the team to achieve Champions League qualification and clinch a Copa del Rey title. Last season, Real Sociedad finished sixth, earning them a spot in the Europa League this campaign. Despite losing key players like Mikel Merino and Robin Le Normand to other clubs, the team has strengthened with players such as Japanese forward Takefusa Kubo and Icelandic striker Aron Emilsson, who joins important squad members including Mikel Oyarzabal, Martín Zubimendi, Brais Méndez, and Álex Remiro.

On the eve of facing Real Sociedad, Girona’s head coach Míchel Sánchez emphasized the team’s commitment on the field, stating, “We’ll give it our all to make our fans proud. We need them at home.” Showing confidence in his injury-plagued squad, Míchel remarked, “We have enough players to make a great performance and overcome Real Sociedad, who are an excellent team. We aim to recover our full form and win matches.” He highlighted the “personality, character, and motivation” of his team, urging them to “showcase the best version, which is highly competitive.”

Last season, the match between Girona and Real Sociedad at Montilivi ended goalless (0-0), with their encounter at Reale Arena also resulting in a draw (1-1). In total, the teams have drawn six of their eight meetings in the Primera División, with Real Sociedad winning the other two. Girona’s sole victory over the San Sebastián side in modern professional football occurred in 2010, in the second tier, courtesy of a penalty scored by Dani Calle.