Both Girona and Bologna have qualified for the champions league and if they fail to qualify for the round of 16, they will be eliminited.
Take note that this season no team from the champions league will go to the europa league. There will be a new format for UEFA champions league and europa league.
I have more faith in Gordon’s than Bologna to even succeed in the Champions League competition at least girona had massive improvement last season, they were shoulder to shoulder with Madrid and even Barcelona no body expected them to improve that way and that is why it is very difficult to predict football because things you don’t expect will always happen. And the moment they did not qualify for the round 16 they should have figured it out that champions league is tougher than la Liga and effort you both in both leagues will be totally different, we know that players are paid to play ball but it is not actually easy competing in almost of the important leagues so if they are in champions league and they don’t qualify for Europa then to me it’s not a big deal champion league have more respect winning it than winning Europa.
Basically, Bologna underwent changes because after all, Bologna head coach also underwent changes. Because after all, Thiago Motta, who managed to make Bologna better last season, has actually become the head coach of Juventus. Meanwhile for Girona, at least they still have the same head coach as last season, so it is very likely that Girona will still have good performance. Although indeed, there is no guarantee for them to qualify for the knockout rounds later, but at least, them playing in the Champions League is already a good achievement for them.
But anyway, the reason I'm only considering about the head coach is because at least, with a new coach it will mean the team will also have a slight overhaul. Although indeed, apart from coaches, of course there are buying and selling transactions for players, but still, I think the head coach who underwent a change will provide a different factor. So yes, I think it's natural to compare Bologna and Girona, it looks like Girona will still have a good performance compared to Bologna next season in the Champions League.