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2024-25 Spanish La Liga
Matchday 29
Barcelona v Girona
Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys
Barcelona, Spain
Sunday, 30 March 2025
Kick-off is at 16h15
Barcelona will be keen to keep the momentum going when they host Girona in a Catalan derby at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys on Sunday, March 30.
The Blaugrana have moved to the top of the pile in
La Liga after embarking on a seven-match winning streak, which has taken them level with Real Madrid on 60 points.
Hansi Flick's side battled back from two goals down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on March 16, keeping them above second-placed Los Blancos on goal difference with a game in hand.
However, Barca have found their local rivals a tough nut to crack recently and the White and Reds did the league double over them last season, winning 4-2 both home and away.
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Girona are struggling for positive results of late though, having not won any of their last six games and drawing their last three against Celta Vigo, Espanyol and Valencia.
The 1-1 stalemate with Los Che on March 15 took them one point above Osasuna (14th) in 13th position and Michel's side are just three points outside the top 10.
Flick has expressed his displeasure with the fixture schedule after their postponed fixture against Osasuna was rearranged for March 27, leaving his players with just 65 hours to recover for the visit of the White and Reds.
"The players have played with their teams, and now it is time for us to play tomorrow. After we have Leganes away at 21:00, so we play late, we arrive late. It's always this way when we play away. We will have little rest," the German said.
"It's to do with the recovery of the players. I'm not happy about this. You see other leagues, how they handle it, with the Champions League, it's completely different. It's not about Real Madrid vs Barca, it's about protecting Spanish teams so they can have success."
Michel acknowledges that Europe is out of their reach, but believes they can compete with the teams above them if the players show more aggression in attack and a cutting edge in front of goal.
"We have to be more aggressive and forceful. I'm not just talking about the strikers, but the whole team. Today we lacked finishing more," he said.
"The sensations don't tell me that we can fight for Europe, but I'm not looking down either. I'm just looking ahead and to the next game. I believe in my team and I think we are competing well.
"I don't see the team in a situation of not being able to win or compete. This gives me peace of mind to keep working on what we need to work on. We need to generate more clear scoring chances."
Head-to-Head (Last Five La Liga Meetings)
Matches - 5
Barcelona - 2
Girona - 2
Draws - 1
La Liga Matchday 29 fixtures:
Saturday, March 29
15h00: Real Sociedad v Real Valladolid
17h15: Espanyol v Atletico Madrid
19h30: Alaves v Rayo Vallecano
22h00: Real Madrid v Leganes
Sunday, March 30
14h00: Getafe v Villarreal
16h15: Barcelona v Girona
18h30: Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna
18h30: Valencia v Real Mallorca
21h00: Real Betis v Sevilla
Monday, March 31
21h00: Celta Vigo v Las Palmas
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