Girona Coach Pablo Machin admits he is wary of the threat from Alaves in Abelardo Fernandez’s first match in charge.
A win for the Basque side would lift them off the foot of La Liga while Girona have won only two of their seven league games to date.
“They have a new Coach and this will make the game more difficult for us,” Machin told his pre match press conference.
“Their players will have an extra motivational factor behind them and they come into the game following a strong showing in the Copa – defeating a competitive team like Getafe is not easy.
“This game, as far as I’m concerned, is not worth three points but four as this is a game against a direct rival for us, we may be in a slightly more comfortable position in terms of points but we cannot relax.
“There are clubs who have come here who will be more glamorous but I have no doubt that this will be one of our most difficult games and we will need the fans more than ever.
“This game is worth much more than just the points that are available as we can put ourselves in a very strong position or be dragged back into the picture at the bottom.”