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Real Madrid-Girona: chronicle, goals and result

GIRONAWe could spend hours applauding Girona’s performance at the Bernábeu. The Catalan team adds a very good point in its fight for permanence and comes out of relegation (1-1), while Madrid concedes two points in its private hand-to-hand match with Barça and only takes one . Girona will be talking about this tie for years. It is a historical milestone that should be celebrated.

Facing a giant is always emotional for a humble club like Girona. A detail as an example: the team released a captain – and armband, recalling the Fairs of Sant Narcís – in the figure of Valery, the only one from Girona present. The boy from l’Escala has two younger brothers who play football and who this week, at school, will tell their friends that their brother played at the Santiago Bernabéu. That he was there, with Modric, doing the field draw. Children who, thanks to the club’s arrival in Primera, no longer look up to Messi or Cristiano because they have the example of who they want to be at home, within their walls. Valery’s game was great, but he lacked the goal to make it brilliant.

The start was fast-paced, with one chance per set. If Madrid let themselves be seen with a Modric shot, Girona, bold as usual, tried it with Castellanos. Míchel has made changes, trying to take advantage of the space that usually exists in the midst of the immensity that this stadium exudes. Everything is out of proportion at the Bernabéu: the towers, the stands, the wealth and the stars. The Girona team, wearing the home team’s kit, have multiplied their numbers on the wings, with Arnau and Couto on the right and Miguel and Valery on the left. Ancelotti’s, without Benzema, have taken Valverde, Vinícius and Rodrygo.

And if it happened?, asked the Catalans timidly, who despite occupying relegation places do not lose their personality. A year ago they played in Fuenlabrada, in Segona. Today they tried to close the bleeding of six days without a win (there are already seven) in the most complicated scenario, that of the leader, who frequented the area and took control early on: a shot from Rodrygo was deflected by Gazzaniga , who almost makes a mess with the ball, in one of those moves that make Montilivi’s hair stand on end.

Valery would have entered paradise if a header from Arnau’s cross had gone a few centimeters further to the right. Not even Cortouis had seen it coming. Girona has withstood the first local onslaught well, has detected where they could hurt them and has put solutions in place. The second was already more serious, with a long shot from Camavinga and a stick from Rodrygo. It’s a good thing there’s no time to breathe, in Madrid. Sooner or later it intimidates.

Girona, however, reached the break much better and left the Bernabéu speechless in a new cavalcade by Valery, the great protagonist of the first half, who overcame Carvajal and gave the ball to Yangel Herrera, who, arriving from behind, he hit it against the crossbar. Míchel’s team, without being hasty, enjoyed three unbeatable opportunities to take the lead. What a shame.

Effort is rewarded

Vinícius asked the fans to cheer them on, a good sign of the good work of the Girona players, who kept the score in the second half. They even allowed themselves the luxury of having men of the caliber of Riquelme, Reinier or Stuani on the bench. The “What if it happened?” from the beginning, a utopia when everyone got up in the morning, it has become real. The Bernabéu has begun to protest even for the goalkeeper services, understanding that Gazzaniga was wasting time, and Vinícius has caused a small brawl. They were nervous.

Forced by a tackle from Kroos that injured Couto, Míchel called on Riquelme, a fantasy midfielder who is having an exceptional season. In the first ball he touched, he got rid of Carvajal and Camavinga to assist Castellanos, who shot from the center. In the second, he left Valery all alone in front of Courtois, but the Girona player wasted the one-on-one. He was called offside, but it wasn’t. Girona didn’t believe that chances wouldn’t come. Valery will dream of mistakes in front of goal.

Nor did Vinícius believe the gift from heaven that fell to him, after an assist from Valverde that did not collapse the white-and-red plans. Asensio, who Gazzaniga made 2-0, took a penalty for handball and Stuani scored the equaliser. Madrid have already completely despaired, when Rodrygo fouled Gazzaniga before scoring the second, but the referee disallowed it. Girona, happy on the pitch, has written a brilliant chapter in its history.

  • Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy (Militao, 87′), Camavinga (Asensio, 61′), Kroos, Modric, Valverde (Mariano, 86′), Rodrygo i Vinícius. Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.
  • Girona: Gazzaniga, Arnau, Santi Bueno, David López, Miguel Gutiérrez (Javi Hernández, 63′), Oriol Romeu, Aleix García, Yangel Herrera (Reinier, 76′), Yan Couto (Riquelme, 58′), Valery (Toni Villa , 76′) and Taty Castellanos (Stuani, 76′). Coach: Míchel Sánchez.
  • Goals: 1-0 Vinícius (70′) i 1-1 Stuani, from penalty kick (80′).
  • Referee: Melero López (Andalusian Committee).
  • Yellow cards: David López (51′), Gazzaniga (59′) and Arnau (90+4′).
  • Red cards: Kroos (55′ and 90+1′).
  • Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu, 58,367 spectators.

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