With Girona being more than just a local rival this time, FC Barcelona will need to be at their very best. The Blaugranes aim to finish at least second in La Liga this time around, but for that, they must first overcome a great hurdle.
Barcelona versus Girona will be a contest between Catalans, and it is a grand encounter for both this time. Traveling away to the Montilivi, many Barcelona players will aspire to put in a proper show.
One man who definitely hopes to ensure that he shows his best level will be Jules Kounde. Since the beginning of 2024, the Frenchman has improved greatly, and he has some unfinished business with Girona.
As highlighted by SPORT, the last encounter between the two sides left Kounde scarred. The threat of both Sávio and Miguel Gutierrez continuously harmed the Frenchman’s game and made him unable to stop their collective powers as they continued to bombard his flank of the Barcelona defense.
This time around, with La Blaugrana much more refined and focused, they hope to give Girona a tougher time. Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez, coupled with their hungry players, will want to ensure that they do not give Girona any more breathing room than they already have.
Kounde, in particular, will hope to revisit the levels he showed against the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League. This time, he faces an opponent that has harmed him before, and could do so in the future, so the Frenchman will reportedly be more than hopeful to get some revenge.
Furthermore, with the summer transfer window fast approaching, the players know the consequences of poor performances. With the club not against making a big sale or two in the summer, no player is perfectly untouchable.
However, stars like Jules Kounde who still have a respectable market out there will need to put in an even greater shift to retain their place.
