Girona FC’s late-season push to avoid relegation in La Liga has received a boost from an unexpected source: 20-year-old forward Joel Roca. Even as not yet reaching the heights of established stars like Cristhian Stuani, Artem Dovbyk, Savinho, or Taty Castellanos, Roca is earning his place in the squad through persistence and hard work. A recent injury to Bryan Gil may open the door for Roca to reclaim a starting role, and he’s already making a case for consistent playing time.
The opportunity comes at a crucial juncture for Girona. Gil’s absence, expected to last between one and a half months, creates a void in the attack. Roca seized a chance to impress during a recent match against Levante, where he scored a stoppage-time equalizer. This goal was particularly significant, preventing a potentially damaging defeat and maintaining a six-point gap between Girona and the relegation zone. The result keeps the team firmly on track toward their primary objective: securing La Liga survival.
That goal has provided a significant morale boost for Roca, who had transitioned from a regular starter earlier in the season to a more infrequent substitute. Following Gil’s recovery, Roca found himself largely on the bench. After starting in the first eight matches of the season (with a brief interruption due to the FIFA U-20 World Cup), he became a substitute, making only one start before the winter break against Atlético Madrid. Prior to last Saturday’s match, Roca had accumulated just 98 minutes across ten appearances in 2026.
Despite his limited playing time, Roca is making his mark. His goal against Levante was only his second in La Liga, following a strike against Rayo Vallecano on the opening day of the season. Yet, it’s a landmark achievement, making him the leading goalscorer from the Girona region to play for the club in Spain’s top flight. Roca now shares that distinction with Valery Fernández, who also scored two goals for Girona in La Liga (against Barcelona and Atlético Madrid during the 2023-24 season).
Roca’s emergence is particularly noteworthy as he is currently the only player from the Girona region in the first team. Historically, opportunities for local players in La Liga have been scarce, especially those with a proven goal-scoring record. Before Roca, only Àlex Granell and Pere Pons had found the net for Girona, each scoring a single goal. Granell, now with Zaragoza, scored against Levante at the Estadi Montilivi in the 2017-18 season. Pons, currently playing for AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, secured a victory for Girona at Valencia in the 2018-19 season.
Looking at the broader history of players from the Girona region who have featured for the club in La Liga over the past six seasons, Roca is already making a significant impact. Dawda Camara, Ferran Ruiz, Pau López, Ricard Artero, Óscar Ureña, Marc Muniesa, and Eloi Amagat have all represented Girona in the top flight, but none managed to find the back of the net. Valery Fernández leads the list in terms of appearances with 69, closely followed by Granell (66) and Pons (65). Muniesa has 32 appearances, while Roca is quickly closing in with 27. Artero (7), Ureña (2), Camara (2), Amagat (2), Ruiz (1), and López (1) have all seen limited action.
At just 20 years old, Roca has plenty of time to add to his tally and cement his place in Girona’s history. His debut for the club came in August 2022, at the age of 17, under the guidance of coach Míchel. After overcoming a serious knee ligament injury and a loan spell at Mirandés, Roca has returned with a renewed determination to establish himself as a key player for his hometown club.
Roca’s story is one of perseverance and dedication. He’s not aiming to be the next Stuani, Dovbyk, or Castellanos – he’s forging his own path, and his recent performances suggest he has a bright future ahead of him. His goal against Levante wasn’t just a point for Girona; it was a statement of intent from a young player eager to prove his worth.
Girona will require all the firepower they can get as they navigate the final stretch of the season. Their next challenge is a home match against [Next Opponent – *information not available in provided sources*], a crucial fixture in their battle against relegation. Fans can follow the latest updates and team news on the official Girona FC website and social media channels.
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