The need was growing at Montilivi. Three consecutive defeats in one week had Míchel’s Girona in a rut that felt urgent. Three points were urgently needed to regain security, and the Girona home ground, where they were practically unbeatable last year, seemed the perfect place. But it wasn’t, and Girona, in a match with a very high pace although with few chances at the start, could only manage a draw against a Rayo Vallecano sunk in their field (0-0). A match in which the problem of this season was repeated in Míchel’s team, and which reminds us that it is not the same as last year: limited capacity to generate danger and loss of passes without neatness. Although, this time, Girona went from less to more, gaining comfort and speed on the pitch. First they had difficulties to generate opportunities. Then, to materialize them. The Catalan team continues without finding itself again: it is the fourth consecutive match without winning.
0
Paulo Gazzaniga, Arnau Martinez, David Lopez, Daley Blind, Miguel Gutierrez, Bryan Gil (Arnaut Danjuma, min. 66), Yangel Herrera, Viktor Tsyhankov, Ivan Martin, Abel Ruiz (Cristhian Stuani, min. 66) and Yaser Asprilla (Gabriel Misehouy, min. 74)
0
Augusto Batalla, Pep Chavarría (Jorge de Frutos, min. 32), Abdul Mumin, Iván Balliu, Florian Lejeune, Óscar Valentín, Andrei Ratiu, Pedro Díaz (Gerard Gumbau, min. 45), Adri Embarba (Álvaro García, min. 59 ), Sergio Camello (Randy Nteka, min. 77) and Isi Palazón (Unai López, min. 45)
Referee Juan Martinez Munuera
Tsygankov (min. 19), Pedro Díaz (min. 44), Abel Ruiz (min. 57), Unai López (min. 63), Yangel Herrera (min. 82), Balliu (min. 88), Andrei Ratiu (min. 92)
To solve this, Míchel decided to bring out the players he knew best, with little trace of the young signings from this summer and seven changes compared to the game against Mestalla to avoid the same outcome. His intention was clear: to reconnect the players and find more rhythm. Míchel asked from the sidelines to move faster, arguing and complaining about the losses and wrong passes from the Girona players who frustrated the few chances that seemed to come during the first half. Stuck, they sought possession trying to build from the back, while Rayo tried to get out quickly towards Gazzaniga’s goal with intensity and high pressure, but without making him suffer. As the minutes went by, the Madrid team abandoned themselves to defense and closed themselves in their half against a Girona that flirted with being more offensive.
The team led by Míchel began to increase the pace, and with a higher gear and better combinations they settled in the opponent’s half, although with an area that resisted a well-organized Rayo. Asprilla had the only clear chance of the first half after a cross from Miguel Gutiérrez, but he could not solve it, not even with another opportunity, being left alone in front of Batalla a minute later.
Girona kept trying, with some anxiety, but they got closer and closer to the first goal during the second half against a besieged Rayo. The fans got excited. Asprilla too, who tried again, this time from outside the area, with a great diagonal shot that hit the top corner. The chances appeared, but not the goal, not even for a finisher like Stuani. Until the final whistle, Rayo rarely raised their head: after barely getting past the centre of the field in almost 80 minutes, the Madrid team finally had their big chance through Álvaro García. In stoppage time, Rayo gave in to the equaliser and Girona could do no more. Míchel maintains the hope of finding the way again, but the team remains stuck in the memory.
