Logic prevailed and Manchester City prevailed over Girona this afternoon. However, the team from Girona has offered a remarkable image and has had a number of goals and opportunities to tie the game. The lack of aim, or in this case, with respect to the City players, has thrown the balance out of balance. And the fact is that the citizen team has done enough to transform the first two arrivals into goals through De Bruyne and Haaland, to sentence the game. The handful of chances from Girona, including posts from Castellanos and Stuani and good saves from goalkeeper Ortega, were of no use, because the scoreboard has not moved. Despite the defeat, Girona closes this pre-season with good feelings before facing Cacereño in a Cup match on Thursday.
Girona went from less to more in a first half in which City’s effectiveness made the difference. A serious mistake by Gazzaniga just starting at the exit of the ball ended the first goal of the game by De Bruyne. Before twenty minutes, Haaland has very easily completed a triangulation between Mahrez and De Bruyne. Girona had the game very close, but little by little they have been gaining possession and meters and have changed their face. Thus, Castellanos, after a mistake by the goalkeeper Ortega, Couto by deflecting a cross from Aleix Garcia and Terrats with a long shot, have missed the goal. Closer still was Castellanos with a header that crashed off the post just moments before half-time.
The restart started with a good chance from Stuani who deflected a defender into a corner and Girona showing, once again, that they have the potential to enter the game at any time. The right side, with Arnau and Couto, has been a way to do a lot of damage to Girona. Thus, Stuani sent a cross from Couto onto the post and there too Arnau made Ortega shine in another addition to the attack. There were no ways to reduce the distance and neither was a goal from Manu Vallejo, from Arnau’s cross, due to the Andalusian’s illegal position.
Manchester City: Ortega, Charles, Katongo, Sergio Gomez, Lewis, Gundogan (m.78, Robertson), Mahrez, Rogers (m.50, Borges), Haaland (m.59, Bobb), De Bruyne (m.80, McDonald) in Palmer.
Girona: Gazzaniga, Arnau, Miguel Gutiérrez, Bueno, Terrats (m.46, Bernardo), Romeu, Aleix Garcia (m.72, Ureña), Toni Villa (m.46, Valery), Castellanos (m.46, Stuani), Iván Martín (m.46, Samu Saiz) and Couto (m.72, Roca).
goals: 1-0, m.4, De Bruyne; 2-0, m.19, Haaland.
referee: Craig Pawson.
stadium: City Football Academy.
