Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Girona
Match Time & Date:
29/01/2025
21:00
Prediction: 0-2
Arsenal
Following three consecutive defeats in all competitions, Girona will look to get back on course when they face Arsenal in the last game of the first phase. The Catalans have been struggling at the back and, no doubt, their defensive vulnerabilities could prove to be a big problem for Michel’s troops on Wednesday evening. As both Paulo Gazzaniga (goalkeeper) and Daley Blind (defender) limped off with injuries in a 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, home win should not be considered.
Mikel Arteta’s men, on the other hand, are eyeing their fourth consecutive win in the Champions League. As Girona missed out on a spot in the knockout stages, we are tempted to put our money on Kai Havertz and Co. The likes of Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu miss out with injuries, while Norway ace Martin Odegaard faces race against the clock to be fit for Wednesday’s showdown.
Highlighted Player (Thomas Partey):
After starting his youth career at Odometah, Thomas Partey was spotted by Atletico Madrid scouts in 2011 and he soon joined the Estadio Vicente Calderon outfit. The defensive midfielder, who born in Odumase Krobo, Ghana on 13 June, 1993, played 33 league games for Atletico Madrid B, while making 14 league appearances for the first team.
After ending his loan spells with Mallorca and Almeria, Thomas Partey returned to Atletico Madrid in 2015 and he made his debut for Diego Simeone’s team in a 1-0 win over Espanyol. The Ghanaian footballer played in the 2015/2016 Champions League final against Real Madrid, coming as a substitute in the 116th minute of the game.
Thomas Partey made his Ghana debut in a 2-0 win over Mauritius in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. His main position is defensive midfield, but the Atletico Madrid man is capable of playing as a central midfielder as well. Partey scored two goals for los Rojiblancos in the 2015/2016 La Liga campaign.
Highlighted Team (Girona):
After several unsuccessful attempts, finally secured promotion to Primera Division at the end of the 2016/2017 season. The Catalan outfit finished the campaign in second place in the standings, 14 points behind Levante and only two clear of third-placed Getafe. Girona play their home games at Montilivi and the capacity of the venue is 9.286.
Speaking of the club history, Girona were founded in the café Norat in La Rambla of Girona on July 23, 1930 and they played their first official game against Colonia Artigas. A number of Spanish coaches were in charge of the team in the past, but it has to be noted that Uruguayan tactician Dagoberto Moll (1965/1966) and Karoly Plattko (1948/1949) of Hungary were in charge of the club as well.
The Catalan team wear white shirts with red stripes when playing at home, while the colour of their shorts is blue. The team’s away kits are blue and black and Sporting Gijon are considered one of Girona’s fiercest rivals.
Barcelona 
Atalanta
Brest 
Real Madrid 
Inter 
Monaco
Juventus 
Benfica 
Lille 
Feyenoord
PSV 
Liverpool
