Montilivi dismantles European-era seating ahead of Arsenal clash
Girona FC has ripped out the temporary seating stand in the Gol Sud section of the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi. The teardown comes directly on the heels of the club’s relegation from Spain’s top flight, stripping the venue of the extra capacity it relied on during its historic campaign in elite European competition.
Crews finished dismantling the temporary southern structure just in time. The stadium now wears its reduced configuration, permanently altering sightlines and overall capacity as the team prepares to host Premier League heavyweights and Champions League runners-up Arsenal for the Trofeu Costa Brava.
A high-profile test against Mikel Arteta’s side
The fixture against Mikel Arteta’s squad anchors Girona’s entire summer schedule. It follows earlier pre-season tests against Castellón and La Liga side Alavés, setting up a clash that brings elite European football back to Montilivi under entirely altered circumstances.
Kickoff is locked in for Saturday at 20:00 local time (18:00 UTC). Yet club management has been quick to emphasize that this glamorous friendly carries a completely different sporting context than the high-stakes continental battles hosted on the exact same pitch just months prior.
Managing attendance limits under the revised configuration
Logistical operations at the ground have pivoted rapidly. Staff are now entirely focused on welcoming the visiting English delegation and strictly managing attendance limits under the stadium’s newly scaled-down footprint.
Shifting focus to the upcoming league campaign
For the players, the work continues on the training ground. Girona will finalize its preparations ahead of Saturday evening’s marquee visit from the North London club. Once the final whistle blows on the Trofeu Costa Brava, the coaching staff will immediately turn their attention toward the grind of the upcoming league campaign.
Worth a look
