Girona continues to dig its own grave in Pamplona

GIRONABlow by blow, defeat by defeat, day by day, it's another shovelful of work on the grave for a Girona side that's failing to make it. In Pamplona, they've racked up their third consecutive defeat (2-1) and their ninth matchday without a win, and are dangerously close to the relegation zone. They're now just five points ahead, an unwise distance for a team in free fall, unstoppable and infected by negativity.

The match against Osasuna was a repeat of previous matches. No substitutions, no hope of finding a way through the gloom. Serious errors at the back and a lack of aggression in attack penalized them to the point of freezing. Girona's main weapon was football. When they ran out of football, they became harmless.

Budimir took advantage of the red-and-white stagnation shortly before halftime to get ahead of everyone and finish alone inside the box. The Navarrese needed no more than three or four touches per play to create danger. Girona's side spent thirty minutes trying to progress: they had the ball to keep it, incapable of causing damage, with no purposeful intention. Watching them compete, except for the final stretch, it didn't seem like they were playing for their lives. In fact, perhaps they thought it was better to protect themselves and salvage a point than risk it and get three. The Croatian striker's actions have upset their plans, but that's no excuse.

Despite the lack of fluidity in the game, Girona had chances. But the details that had previously seemed odd have now seemed odd. Danjuma had a goal ruled out for offside, even though the score was 0-0. Then, the Dutchman and Arthur forced Sergio Herrera to intervene, and Boyomo cleared a ball off the line that looked like it was going in. Míchel maintains that the dynamics don't exist, but the facts don't support him. Miguel didn't even travel, due to a last-minute injury, for example.

By the centimetres

With a nonexistent ability to break through, the situation called for a reversal. The options from the start were Asprilla, Iván Martín, and Stuani. The Colombian was caught in the first three attempts, all of which went wide, and was booed by the Madrid coach for not making the effort or even linking up. The desperation was such that the team, with the score against them, played every action as if it were stoppage time, fearing they'd reach the final days with the water up to their necks.

Girona improved, but couldn't find the reward by inches. González Fuertes and the technical team ruled out a second goal, scored by Stuani. One of those you have to scrutinize to see if it's a goal or not. Everything happens to the team. And nothing is positive. Pablo Ibáñez's decision was a harsh punishment. Asprilla made it 2-1 too late.