The meeting is available to watch live on CITY+ and Recast, while tickets are also available for the clash at the Academy Stadium.
MANAGER
Former Spain Under-20s international Michel was appointed head coach in July 2021, following a two-year spell at Huesca.
A midfielder during his playing days, the 47-year-old enjoyed two lengthy spells at Rayo Vallecano at the beginning and end of his playing career – making a combined 363 appearances for the club.
He went on to manage Rayo, initially at youth level, before being promoted to the senior side from 2017-2019.
DOMESTIC PEDIGREE
Girona have won the Segunda Division B, fourth-tier of Spanish football, once in 2007/08 and the Tercera Division, fifth tier, five times – the most recent coming in 2005/06.
Michel’s side were promoted to La Liga last season after winning the Segunda Division play-offs, following a sixth-placed finish at the end of the season.
The 2022/23 campaign represents the Blanquivermells’ third season at the top table in Spanish football.
CURRENT FORM
After 14 games in La Liga this season, Girona sit 13th in the table after a run of four wins, four draws and six losses, handing them 16 points.
And their final match before the World Cup break saw them beat Quintanar 2-1 in the Copa del Rey.
TOP SCORER
Uruguayan Christian Stuani is their current league top goalscorer with four in 10 games.
The 36-year-old former Middlesbrough man has enjoyed life at the Estadi Montilivi, scoring 111 goals in 188 games since joining in July 2017.
CITY LINKS
Former City academy graduate Aleix Garcia currently represent Girona, after signing in July 2021 from Eibar.
The tidy midfielder represented Pep Guardiola’s side nine times and has since made 60 appearances for our Spanish opponents.
PREMIER LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
Not only do Girona have former and current City men in their engine room, but they also have several players with bags of Premier League experience.
Summer signing Paulo Gazzaniga, on loan from Fulham, also played for Tottenham and Southampton, while former Saints midfielder Oriol Romeu also signed in pre-season.
Stuani’s time at Boro represents another player with English top-flight minutes in their roster.
PREVIOUS MEETING
City have never faced Girona in competitive action, but the last meeting was in an August 2017 friendly.
Portu netted the only goal of the game to secure a 1-0 win for the Spanish side.
CITY+ AND RECAST
You can watch exclusive City content on CITY+ and Recast.
Available for just £2.99 per month across all our digital platforms, a CITY+ subscription provides supporters with unrivalled access to new and exclusive City content.
It will allow you to watch full-match replays of all Men’s and Women’s matches, selected broadcasts of Women’s, Elite Development Squad and Academy matches and provides access to the full catalogue of City Studios documentaries.
The official Man City Recast channel offers fans flexible, pay-per-view live fixtures and on demand viewing options including match action from across the years, legend interviews, Best of Series, Man City Esports and City Studios documentaries.
