Excessive punishment
Girona compete with an identity at the Metropolitano, but are penalised by their strength in the penalty area.
Atlético de Madrid 3-0 Girona
Girona left Madrid with a scoreline that did little to reflect what they saw on the pitch. MĂchel SĂĄnchez's men were daring from the start, and with the personality that characterises them, they had phases of control and even some dangerous arrivals. However, the strength in the penalty area was the difference between the two sides, and the small details that the Girona coach talked about before the game went in the favour of a home side with a lot of talent in all lines and who have been well reinforced over the summer.
Alternatives for both teams
Throughout the first half, the match was marked by a frenetic pace and chances in both areas, although Girona were more in control and wanted to be the protagonists and at many moments they succeeded in doing so. The Red and Whites found it difficult to break down the home side, but when they did they had clear chances to score. A cross from Bryan Gil on the half-hour mark almost set up Abel's first, and Oriol Romeu's final shot was turned behind for a corner. With the scoreboard already down, Abel had a chance to equalise, first with a one-on-one with Oblak that the keeper sent to a corner, and then with a good through ball from Bryan Gil that he chested down inside the area.
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— Girona FC (@GironaFC) August 25, 2024
Atletico, more forceful in the area
Atletico, without doing more than they deserved, took advantage of a free kick on the edge of the area after forty minutes to take the lead with a cross-shot from Griezmann, and a minute later Gazzaniga and the post prevented a second in a crazy final stretch of first half stoppage time. Atletico struck again at the worst possible moment, just after the restart, with Marcos Llorente's powerful shot from outside the box. With a two-goal difference on the scoreboard, Girona found it hard to threaten a very tidy opponent who did not concede any chances inside the box. Even so, MĂchel SĂĄnchez's men went all out to try to close the gap, and they paid for it with a third in stoppage time from a counter-attack led by Barrios and finished off by captain Koke.
MĂchel SĂĄnchez's reaction
The coach emphasised the need to continue improving and to analyse the team's feelings beyond the result. âUntil the first goal, the game was under control. We didn't create too much danger, but they didn't threaten us either, we were good defensively. We lacked pace to have more depth, but we have to continue to grow and not suffer because this team will connect and win gamesâ, said MĂchel. The coach, who explained that the second goal hurt the team despite not giving up at any time, also valued the demanding stage and the potential of AtlĂ©tico, who last year only lost three home games all season.
