The opening game of La Liga 2025/26 comes from Montilivi on Friday, as Girona take on Rayo Vallecano, with both sides hungry to make a winning start.
After two vastly contrasting seasons, it’s difficult to know what to expect from the hosts. Girona stormed the top three in the 2023/24 season, before collapsing to a 16th place finish last term. If it wasn’t for the goals of veteran Cristhian Stuani late in the campaign, they may well have dropped down into the Segunda Division.
Michel will be hoping to not have to rely so heavily on the 38-year-old this term. He has a few new additions to work with, including Axel Witsel and Thomas Lemar who have both joined from Atletico Madrid, but the Girona boss will also be focused on trying to get more out of the many younger players who arrived last summer.
As for Rayo, they’ve had a relatively quiet window so far, a concern given they really need to bolster their squad ahead of only their second ever European campaign. They impressed under Inigo Perez last season, and they head into their opening game with a relatively settled side, although new signing Luiz Felipe should slot into the side in central defence.
They warmed up for the season opener with an impressive 3-0 victory over Premier League new boys Sunderland last weekend.
How the bookies view it: Catalans favoured to start well
The bookies reckon Girona can make a positive start in this match, with the Catalans priced at 6/5 to win the game with Boylesports. The draw is on offer at 21/10, while you can back Rayo to triumph at 2/1.
Recent head-to-head: Home advantage key
Three of the last four meetings between these clubs have been won by the side playing at home. The exception was a 0-0 draw in this fixture last season, but Girona have shaded the head-to-head overall, winning three of the last five encounters.
Players to watch: Isi to ignite Rayo?
The visitors still have problems in the striker department, an ongoing theme over the past few years, but they can still count on Isi Palazon to light up matches from an advanced midfield role. The 30-year-old registered four goals and four assists in La Liga last term, while averaging 1.4 key passes per game.
Predicted Lineups
Girona are expected to be without Miguel Gutierrez who is set to move to Napoli, while Abel Ruiz and Donny van de Beek are out injured.
Long-term absentee Abdul Mumin should be the only player unavailable for Rayo at Montilivi.
Girona: Gazzaniga, Blind, Krejci, Reis, A. Martinez, Herrera, Martin, Asprilla, Roca, Stuani, Tsygankov.
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Chavarria, Felipe, Lejeune, Balliu, U. Lopez, Ciss, A. Garcia, Isi, De Frutos, Nteka.
Anything else catch the eye?
Scoring goals was a problem for both of these sides last season, with Girona’s total way down on their free-scoring 2023/24 campaign, while Rayo were by far the lowest scorers of the European qualifiers with only 41.
Neither side looks to have really strengthened in attack so far, and on a hot opening night in Catalunya, it’s hard to see many goals in this one. You can back under 1.5 goals at 21/10 with Boylesports, while the same bookmaker is offering odds of 20/21 for BTTS – No.
The visitors look much more the settled side, and after a strong pre-season performance, backing Rayo Vallecano or draw at 6/10 could also be worth considering.
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