Girona vs Elche: David López starts as Girona must win at Montilivi while Elche can survive with a draw
Girona must win at Montilivi on Saturday, May 23, 2026, to avoid relegation, with David López returning to the starting XI and Elche fielding Buba Sangaré and Aleix Febas.
Opening: lineups confirm high-stakes clash at Montilivi
Girona named an altered starting XI for the decisive match at Montilivi, with veteran David López included as the hosts chase a win to secure survival. The fixture, Girona vs Elche, carries clear stakes: Girona need all three points, while Elche can preserve their position with a draw. Míchel has selected a side that balances experience and creativity as the Catalans attempt to end a seven-game winless run.
Elche responded by restoring Buba Sangaré and Aleix Febas to the lineup after their victory over Getafe, opting for a formation aimed at containing Girona and taking advantage of counterattacks. The visitors arrive needing only to avoid defeat, which shapes their selection and tactical approach for the decisive encounter. Both teams’ choices underline the contrasting priorities that will frame the match.
Míchel’s starting XI and the significance of David López
Míchel’s announced lineup includes Gazzaniga in goal, a back four of Arnau, David López, Vitor Reis and Àlex Moreno, and a midfield featuring Witsel and Iván Martín. The attack is built around Bryan Gil, Ounahi, Joel Roca and Tsygankov, reflecting a desire to generate high-quality service and cause consistent danger in the final third. David López, 36, returns to the starting lineup for the first time since August, making only his fifth appearance of the season.
López’s selection follows concerns over Alejandro Francés’ fitness after the loss to Atlético Madrid, and his inclusion brings leadership and experience to a side under immense pressure. That experience could be pivotal in set-piece scenarios and organizing a backline that has failed to convert recent chances into wins. Míchel will expect López to steady the defense and provide a calming presence during key moments.
Elche’s XI: Sangaré and Febas return to crucial roles
Elche’s manager named Matías Dituro in goal with a defensive line including Buba Sangaré, Víctor Chust, Affengruber and Pedro Bigas. The midfield features Germán Valera, Febas, Marc Aguado and Gonzalo Villar, while Tete Morente and Álvaro lead the attacking line. Sangaré replaces Grady Diangana and Febas is back after serving a suspension, changes that restore balance to the visiting side’s engine room.
The return of Febas gives Elche more control in central areas and offers a creative outlet capable of unlocking defenses, while Sangaré’s presence is intended to bolster defensive stability. With the visitors needing only a draw, their personnel choices emphasize compactness and the ability to neutralize Girona’s attacking threats. Elche’s selection signals a pragmatic plan to absorb pressure and seek opportunities on transitions.
Tactical battle: how Girona can force a win
Girona must chase victory, which will likely compel Míchel to prioritize forward momentum and risky positional play. The inclusion of Witsel alongside Iván Martín suggests Girona will look to combine midfield solidity with quick progression through Bryan Gil and Tsygankov. Set pieces and wide deliveries are expected to be important avenues for Girona given the presence of experienced aerial players.
To break down a compact Elche, Girona will need high-intensity pressing to force turnovers and quick interchanges in tight spaces. Joel Roca and Ounahi will be charged with creating numerical advantages between the lines, while Tsygankov’s movement could stretch Elche’s defensive shape. If Girona fail to convert early chances, the pressure will mount and the match dynamic could shift in favor of the visitors.
Elche’s game plan: defend, disrupt and counterattack
Elche approach the game with the simpler objective of avoiding defeat, which shapes a conservative and disciplined strategy. Matías Dituro’s experience in goal will be relied upon to organize a low block, while Febas and Villar are expected to screen passes and break up Girona’s rhythm. The visitors are likely to narrow gaps centrally and force Girona to attempt more speculative wide play.
Counterattacking opportunities could determine the outcome if Elche can win possession in midfield and release forwards quickly into transition. Tete Morente and Álvaro will be valuable on the break, tasked with exploiting any spaces left by Girona’s high pressing. Defensive discipline will be paramount: a single lapse could hand Girona the opening they need, but Elche’s selection indicates confidence in their ability to manage sustained pressure.
Context and consequences: survival, pressure and season finales
The match at Montilivi serves as the culmination of a season in which Girona’s form has dramatically slipped, leaving them with three points from the last 21 available. That slump has placed immense pressure on coaching staff and players to reverse trends in a single game. A victory would lift Girona out of immediate peril and restore confidence, while failure to win would leave their fate dependent on other results or administrative outcomes.
For Elche, the stakes are lower but still significant: a draw ensures survival and allows the club to solidify plans for the summer without the threat of relegation. Securing safety on an opponent’s ground would be a pragmatic and morale-boosting result ahead of the offseason. The different reward structures for each side create a classic end-of-season tension between attack and containment.
Key matchups and players to watch
The duel between Girona’s creative line and Elche’s disciplined midfield is central to the outcome. Ounahi’s ability to create space and supply Joel Roca will test Elche’s central defenders repeatedly. Meanwhile, Febas’ distribution and Sangaré’s defensive organization will be vital in disrupting Girona’s combinations.
Set-piece efficiency could tilt the balance, giving an edge to the team that manages dead-ball situations better under pressure. Gazzaniga and Dituro, as experienced shot-stoppers, may have decisive moments to influence the result. The psychological dimension—handling nerves and making tactical substitutions—will likely determine which team adapts better during the closing stages.
Girona know their margin for error is minimal; Elche can afford to retain shape and play for a draw. Both sides have chosen lineups that reflect those priorities, with López, Sangaré and Febas the headline personnel shifts that will shape the contest at Montilivi.
This match provides a dramatic final chapter to the teams’ seasons, with immediate survival on the line and clear tactical battles to be resolved on the pitch. The selected XIs indicate how each manager intends to approach the moment, and the outcome will be decided by which side executes its plan under pressure.
