Girona beats Valencia to remain at the top of Spanish football

Hugo Duro overtook Valencia, but the team Ruben Baraja It was the third match without a win, as the Catalan team chased victory until they achieved it thanks to the captain’s two goals: in the 82nd and 88th minutes.

The Rojiblancos celebrated their twelfth league victory, just one less than in the entire last season, and once again positioned themselves as sole leaders ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Granada, consolidating their position as Champions League, in the seventh game in a row without a defeat.

The red and white team also tried to make up for Monday’s draw at home against Athletic Club (1-1) from the opening signal and took control of the ball, with almost total control. Ball possession was over 70% at halftime.

Míchel’s players monopolized the ball and in the first minute they already worried Giorgi Mamardashvili with a point and shot from Artem Dovbyk, back in the eleven after overcoming his injury. Villanueva Churches The play was declared invalid due to offside.

The match was played on Valencia’s half of the pitch. After 10 minutes Girona lost due to an injury Yangel Herreraa key piece for Míchel, but the arrival of Pablo Torre, who was willing, confirmed Míchel’s offensive idea.

The team played and played, but they lacked success in the final pass and imbalance on the wings to achieve their superiority, create real danger and hurt Valencia, which was very well planted. At the first chance a visitor received a cross from Fran Perez that found no purpose.

Girona found the goal thanks to Dovbyk after a free kick in the 40th minute, but Iglesias Villanueva canceled out the 1-0 due to David López’s offside in extra time.

The locals took a step forward as they returned from the locker room and attacked with even more impetus, but Alex Garcia He met Mamardashvili twice: first with a hard shot from distance and then with a powerful shot from inside the area, which he answered with a very valuable intervention.

Míchel switched sides to Sávio to free him from the double marking of Thierry Correia and Dimitri Foulquier and Girona really started to threaten, but when the red and whites had their best moment, they gave away the 0-1.

David López gained confidence and had no control over a back pass and Hugo Duro stole his wallet, picked up the ball and ran unopposed until he reached the area and beat Gazzaniga with a beautiful lob.

Girona immediately responded with conviction: Ivan Martin He crossed to the far post, but Dovbyk failed to finish.

Míchel’s team lacked fluidity and association rhythm, against a Valencia trying to protect victory: Mouctar Diakhaby replaced Fran Pérez, while Míchel brought on Cristhian Stuani for David López. Foulquier could have scored from the penalty spot all by himself, but he missed.

Mamardashvili, the savior, stopped a free header from Stuani, but in the 82nd minute the Georgian goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent the Uruguayan striker’s goal from a clever cross by Yan Couto from the right. The goal gave Girona wings, until that moment very rushed and without rhythm, and he launched himself in search of victory.

And he did: as in the 88th minute Couto crossed again from the right and Stuani finished on goal again, creating euphoria. Girona has 21 points more than last year after fifteen games and Montilivi dreams of LaLiga.