Eight points difference with 24 at stake. The distance is not definitive, but almost. Girona took a giant step towards remaining in the First Division in a clear exercise of pragmatism against Villarreal, a specialist in that playing philosophy. An own goal by Pau Navarroon the edge of half-time, served to leave the points in Montilivi, who celebrated a victory with the smell of salvation.
The script seemed to be written word for word by Michel. The ball was left to his team, Villarreal chose to wait in hiding with the intention of breaking the game with their effective and quick transitions. But the Catalan team handled the ball with the sole objective of not generating losses that would cause the departure of the team. Marcellin and end up winning the game through sheer wear and tear.
Technical details of Girona – Villarreal
It is difficult to remember a match in which neither of the two goalkeepers had any intervention of merit. No news of Luiz Junior nor of Gazzaniga. Which indicates to what extent the match became a chess game, with movements analyzed to the millimeter and that inherent fear of being punished by the opponent for a tactical mistake. In that initial score he fell Vanat, injured by a muscle problem which allowed Abel Ruiz to have his first real opportunity this season in the league.
In that scenario, as we said, simply due to territorial logic, the normal thing is that Girona would end up winning the game. And so it was. Vitor Reis warned at the exit of a corner while Villarreal could not find their attacking partner to triangulate in damaging areas. Only fleeting appearances of Pepe They altered the order of a Girona that was excessively comfortable in defensive tasks.
Nor had Míchel’s team demanded much from its rival before the goal, just before the break. A low cross from Arnau to the near post was deflected by Pau Navarro into the netunfortunately for Luiz Junior who stayed with the mold.
Blind joins the injury report
Villarreal came out with a little more intention in the second act, but Marcelino’s team had a stupid night. A somewhat lazy attitude surely marked by the lack of obligations at the classification level. Not even the triple change launched by the yellow coach changed the spirit of his team. Gerard could have tied in an isolated action but his point-blank shot was taken out, opportunely, by Vitor Reis.
The benches moved even more, Blind injury includedbut not the marker. Neither Girona was willing to give anything away nor was Villarreal willing to press the accelerator to achieve it. A practical match with incalculable value for Girona. Permanence is already around the corner. And Míchel’s people return the greeting. Only a catastrophe would separate the Catalan team from another season in First Division.
