Girona shows off against Athletic (2-1) to make the point at the Bernabéu even better

The initial downpour lasted, if not for, a long half hour. Time to see the best Girona of the season. An intense and coherent team, hungry, determined and organized. He has neutralized Athletic and has dedicated himself to treading the area, with the chances that have been accumulating, but without the necessary aim to materialize them. It was the only blemish of a brilliant staging, able to hook the viewer from the first minute, with a horrible control of Valery when he climbed alone towards the goal, until the 33rd minute, when Miguel, after sitting down an opponent, he tried his luck with a shot that bounced off a defender and ended up in the goalkeeper’s hands. In the middle, countless arrivals and electric football, that of Míchel’s team.

Miguel did not find the goal in the 6th minute, while in the 9th it was Toni Villa, today’s starter, who shot wide after a great play. Valery tried in the 12th and the ball narrowly missed the target, while Unai Simón, in the quarter of an hour, put a good hand in front of Aleix Garcia’s free-kick. And in the 19th it was Yangel, one of the best at home, who was left with honey on his lips after making a cassock and combining with Castellanos, again the reference in attack.

And Athletic? Surprised, especially at the start, and also overcome. Apart from an overly focused header from Iñaki Williams, this in the 21st, he didn’t appear until the final bars of the first act, when he recovered and started to combine a bit with face and eyes. Because until then, nothing. Without the ball, attempts at long transitions were covered, always successfully, by an imperial Oriol Romeu. Only in the 40th, of course, Athletic could have scored. Raúl García received at the top of the area, controlled very well and sent a shot to the far post that was met by Gazzaniga’s excellent response.

The passage through the changing rooms has done nothing but multiply Girona’s hunger and has served to confirm that Miguel is not quite confident with his right leg – thus he has let slip a good opportunity to open the scoring – and that Gazzaniga has taken the ownership with the desire to keep it for a long time – Nico Williams’ shot showed off again. The second half started like the first, with an avalanche from Míchel, who have been accumulating chances. The big difference is that, this time, they were accompanied by the aim. In the 66th, with the ball stopped, the first has fallen. Finally. Aleix Garcia served a lateral free kick aimed at the first post, where it found the head of David López, who sent the ball into the back of the net.

The goal was celebrated from the pitch by Stuani and Iván Martín, who had only recently entered the field. Precisely the latter, who reappeared after recovering from an injury he suffered last June, was key in the 2-0 win. A dangerous action by Athletic was denied by David López with a long ball in the opposite field. Balenziaga made a false step and Iván Martín chased the trajectory. He controlled, raised his head and directed a shot that slipped under the legs of Unai Simón (2-0). Delirium in Montilivi and the fans who had a blast.

But since there is no calm game for Girona, the excitement multiplied when Guruzeta cut distances in the 78th. Alone in the area, he first connected a cross from the right, impossible for Gazzaniga. It was time to suffer, nothing was decided. But the team defended as well as attacked throughout the match and ended up savoring victory again, seven days later, making the point from last Sunday at the Bernabéu even better.

TECHNICAL SHEET

GIRONA: Gazzaniga, Arnau Martínez, Santi Bueno, David López, Miguel Gutiérrez (Javi Hernández, min. 84), Oriol Romeu, Aleix Garcia, Yangel Herrera (Terrats, min. 84), Toni Villa (Iván Martín, min. 64), Valery (Riquelme, min. 61) and Castellanos (Stuani, min. 61)

ATHLETIC: Unai Simón, Lekue (De Marcos, min. 54), Yeray, Íñigo Martínez, Yuri (Balenziaga, min. 46), Vesga (Vencedor, min. 54), Sancet (Gruzeta, min. 69), Nico Williams, Raúl García (Zarraga, min. 69), Berenguer and Iñaki Williams.

GOALS: 1-0, David López (min. 66); 2-0, Iván Martín (min. 76); 2-1, Guruzeta (min. 78);

REFEREE: Pizarro Gómez (Madrid committee). He has warned Oriol Romeu (Girona); Yuri (Athletic)

WAS: Jaime Latre (Aragonese committee)

STADIUM: Montilivi, 11,420 spectators.

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