Bolton play the closest thing they’ll have to a home friendly tomorrow when they take on Girona at Leyland’s County Ground. It’ll be a second ‘proper’ run-out for the senior players after last Saturday’s win at Halifax. Tuesday saw a game against Morecambe, but that goalless draw was played behind closed doors.
The La Liga side are the best opposition we’ll face in terms of quality before the season gets underway. The Catalan club, part of the Manchester City network of clubs, comfortably stayed in La Liga last term as a newly promoted club, without relying that much on their Etihad-linked players.
Again, Bolton should be fielding a mix of senior players, trialists and younger prospects. Pawel Olkowski got a short run-out on Tuesday, but tomorrow would be his first public appearance. Yanic Wildschut, signed yesterday, could also get some minutes.
Girona finished 10th in their first ever top-flight season and are now managed by Eusebio (not the Portuguese striker, obviously.) Johan Mojica, Colombia’s left-back at the World Cup, plays for them, although I wouldn’t be sure he would be involved tomorrow. Players with experience in England include Marc Muniesa (Stoke) and Christhian Stuani (Middlesbrough). Portu is their biggest threat if he plays, the attacking midfielder having scored 11 goals last season.
This is Bolton’s first game against Spanish opposition since a friendly against Real Betis in 2013 when the Spanish side ran out 2-0 winners at the Macron.