A comeback with a style all its own
Girona keep up the pace with a crazy final stretch and remain co-leaders ahead of next week's trip to Barça
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find adjectives to define what this team is doing. Míchel Sánchez's men once again produced a crazy afternoon at Montilivi with a last-ditch comeback that earned them three golden points and kept them joint top of the table along with Real Madrid. Once again, the rojiblancos have shown that not only do they play very good football, but they also have the pride and courage needed to pull off the most difficult games like today's. With this one, in fact, they have now come from behind six times in fifteen games.
The team took the initiative from the start and came dangerously close in the opening minutes, but it was difficult to follow up attacking moves during a first half governed by the visitors' defensive organisation. Despite dominating possession in the opposition half and having the match under control, Míchel's side found it difficult to break down the Valencian framework in the final third, and went in at the break without any great chances in either area.
The restart started with two great shots from Aleix García from outside the box that had Mamardashvili on his toes. The visitors' goalkeeper was the hero to keep his team alive and, just after, Hugo Duro took advantage of a mistake at the back to take on Gazzaniga and beat him with a perfect chip in the 56th minute.
The goal reinforced Valencia's script, closed at the back and hoping to take advantage of space on the counter-attack. Foulquier came close to doing so with a double clear chance, but Girona took control of the match, sinking the visitors and subduing them with great authority. The Couto-Stuani connection revolutionised the game, and they found a way to convert their dominance into clear goal scoring chances, which is what was costing them the most.
The Uruguayan had a first warning with a header that Mamardashvili deflected, and in the following ones he did not spare any more. The first goal came in the 82nd minute, taking advantage of Couto's cross from the left side that he headed in at the far post. Stuani's instinct was rewarded again six minutes later, provoking Mosquera's own goal after another cross from Couto, who this time won the ball deep and put it low into the box for the '7' to do what he does best.
Still before the end, the referee disallowed Savinho's third goal for a previous offside after a long VAR review, but Girona got three very important points to keep dreaming big. Next Sunday the team will visit Montjuic as leaders to face Barça.
