Girona take on rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga action on August 25 ahead of their first ever UEFA Champions League campaign.
Both teams will learn their opponents for the newly formatted ‘league phase’ of the competition in next week’s draw following a superb 2023/24 for Girona.
Michel Sanchez led his side to a first top four finish, ending the campaign in third place, five points ahead of Atletico Madrid.
it was the first time a team outside ‘Spain’s Big Three’ finished higher than fourth since Valencia in 2011/12.
Ahead of their meeting in the Spanish capital, Sanchez hailed his opposite number Diego Simeone, and claimed Los Rojiblancos’ summer spending will power a title challenge in 2025.
“Simeone has made Atletico into one of the top teams in the world. They are always in the Champions League, have won titles, and stabilised at the highest level”, as per reports from Diario AS.
“This year they’ve made some very good signings and I think they are a title candidate.”
Simeone has splashed the cash over the summer, as he looks to keep pace with his rivals, with over €180m spent on new players and the potential for more before the transfer window closes on August 30.
