La Liga’s Matchday 20 fixture between Espanyol and Girona will take place on 16 January at the Cornella-El Prat Stadium in Barcelona. Espanyol vs Girona: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Espanyol
Espanyol are still without a win in 2026. Not long ago, the home team put together their best winning run in La Liga in the 21st century, taking maximum points from five straight matches, but they have now collected just one point from the last two rounds. After a frustrating derby defeat to Barcelona, the club failed to beat relegation-zone side Levante (1:1). It is also worth noting that Manolo Gonzalez’s men have conceded in three consecutive league matches, having previously kept three straight clean sheets in this competition. The hosts remain fifth in the standings; the gap to fourth has been cut to four points, but Espanyol no longer have a game in hand.
- No more than two goals have been scored in five of the club’s last six La Liga matches.
- The team have avoided defeat in six of their previous seven league games (five wins, one draw).
- Espanyol’s all-or-nothing home run in this competition stands at six matches (three wins, three defeats).
Potential Espanyol Lineup (4-4-2)*
Marko Dmitrovic – Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero, Omar El Hilali – Urko Gonzalez, Jofre Carreras, Edu Exposito, Tyrhys Dolan – Pere Milla, Kike Garcia.
Midfielder Pol Lozano could return to the squad after serving a suspension.
Girona
Girona have noticeably improved their position in the table over recent weeks. In their last league outing, the away team edged past Osasuna 1:0, a result that made it two wins in a row and three victories in their last four La Liga matches. By comparison, Michel Sanchez’s side had won only two of their first 15 league games of the current season prior to that run. The visitors have not only climbed out of the relegation zone, but also risen to 13th place in the standings. In terms of points, Girona are already closer to eighth than to 18th. Even so, the club retain the tag of La Liga’s most unreliable side, having conceded 34 goals in total in this season’s competition.
- The Catalans have found the net in 10 of their last 12 matches in the Spanish top flight.
- Girona’s all-or-nothing run in La Liga has reached five games (three wins, two defeats).
- The club have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 consecutive away matches in this competition.
Potential Girona Lineup (4-5-1)*
Paulo Gazzaniga – Hugo Rincon, Daley Blind, Vitor Reis, Alex Moreno – Arnau Martinez, Ivan Martin, Bryan Gil, Viktor Tsygankov, Thomas Lemar – Vladyslav Vanat.
Midfielder Lass Kuruma is suspended. Goalkeeper Juan Carlos Martin is unavailable through injury, as are midfielders Azzedine Ounahi and Donny van de Beek, plus forwards Abel Ruiz and Portu.
Referee
Iosu Galech Apestegui (Spain)
Matches – 10 (La Liga, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 46;
Yellow cards per match on average – 4.6;
Red cards shown – 3;
Fouls per match on average – 28;
Penalties – 30%.
Espanyol vs Girona: Match Prediction
Espanyol have clearly slowed down compared to their strong spell at the end of last year. In the first half of January, the home side took just one point from two La Liga matches, and while the defeat to Barcelona can be described as non-critical, the draw with a blunt Levante from the foot of the table was an unnecessary slip. Now the club face an awkward opponent. Espanyol are without a win in five straight head-to-head meetings in La Liga (three draws, two defeats). At home, the team have never beaten this opposition in the league, taking only two points from four previous matches in this competition.
Girona are in good form and are currently producing their best spell of the season. Over the last four league rounds, the away team have won three matches – more than they managed after the first 15 La Liga games (two). Since the start of November, the visitors have suffered only two defeats in eight league fixtures. The squad have moved out of the relegation zone and opened up a comfortable cushion, meaning thoughts can now turn to finishing in the top half of the table.
We think the visitors, given their current form, are capable of giving a struggling Espanyol a proper game.
Prediction: Girona (+1)
* For each team, the starting XI from their previous match in this competition is listed.
