Girona settled for a draw against Tenerife, as a first-half defensive lapse and a late disallowed gol kept Quique Álvarez’s side from securing their third away victory. Colombian forward Yaser Asprilla opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Enric Gallego equalized for the hosts prior to halftime.
Asprilla Strikes Early Before Tenerife Equalizes
The visitors seized control immediately when Asprilla capitalized on a short clearance from Tenerife defender León at the penalty spot, firing home with his very first touch of the match in the fourth minute. With the squad now complete following the return of international players, manager Quique Álvarez gave starting nods to Junior, Asprilla, and Vladyslav Vanat, leaving David López, Sarasa, and Donny van de Beek out of the starting lineup alongside Fran Beltrán returning to the pivot position in place of Morante. The early breakthrough gave Girona control of possession, though they failed to test the defense for a second goal, while Abel Ruiz missed a close-range header from a metre and a half out before the break. Tenerife capitalized on defensive passivity in the 30th minute when Juanpe Francés and Àlex Moreno failed to clear a left-wing cross, allowing Enric Gallego to head past goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Defensive Vulnerabilities and Tactical Changes
Gazzaniga struggled with his positioning throughout the first half, prompting intense warm-ups from reserve goalkeeper Krapivtsov during the interval. The second half saw Tenerife adopt a more aggressive stance, interrupting Girona’s buildup play. Seeking greater attacking depth, manager Quique Álvarez introduced Bryan Gil and Donny van de Beek for Asprilla and Abel Ruiz, followed later by Unai Hernández replacing Carles Pérez, and Gerard Valentín entering for Dani Fernández in the 64th minute for the hosts. Despite deploying a two-striker system late in the match with Vladyslav Vanat and Bohdan Pyshchur, Girona could not break down the defensive block.
Late Drama at the Heliodoro
The result leaves Girona reflecting on a missed opportunity to close the gap on the automatic promotion places, having failed to convert their early dominance into a lasting advantage.
Upcoming Fixtures at Montilivi
Girona returns to Catalonia to prepare for a crucial double-header at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, where they will face FC Andorra and Celta Fortuna as they look to re-establish momentum in the league standings.
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