Stuani leaves the most Girona-based Espanyol with a span of nose

BarcelonaA goal from Stuani from the penalty spot, in Panenka style, left a resilient Espanyol with a span of their noses. The white and blues came close to winning their first game against the Girona team at Cornellà-El Prat, but the Uruguayan's goal forced them to accept a draw (1-1) that does not solve the problems of either team. The white and blues end the matchday two points above the relegation zone, while the Girona team extends their winless streak to five games.

Both teams had a clear idea of the game plan that suited them best. Espanyol, despite trying to put pressure on Girona's attack, wanted to take few risks with the ball at their feet in the opening stretch to minimise possible losses in dangerous areas. The Girona side, on the other hand, came out to be the protagonists. And, in fact, they succeeded, since from the beginning they took control of the game and put the home team under the baton of Arthur Melo under pressure.

The Brazilian stood out in his first start and was one of Girona's standout players while he had some gas. In the first half, with fresh legs, he guided his teammates with the ball and also contributed in defence, preventing a couple of promising Espanyol attacks with some worthy saves. Míchel's men, who presented a much improved version compared to recent games, generated a lot of superiority on both sides, but could not find a finisher in the various dangerous crosses that he placed in the area. On some occasions the ball wandered around the six-yard box without finding a finisher. However, most of the time it was due to the defensive efficiency of Cabrera, Kumbulla, Omar, Urko or Lozano, true bastions against Joan Garcia.

Joan Garcia shines before conceding the goal

Espanyol were clear that their options depended on resisting the visitors' attacks and trying to take advantage of a counterattack. In a game in which they had little control, the blue and whites found in a player from Girona, Jofre, an incisive bullet capable of transporting the ball quickly into the opponent's half. The winger from Espanyol created the imbalance on the right side and became a headache for Miguel. The clearest chance of the first half came through his boots, a strong shot from Puado that Gazzaniga, with a splendid intervention, rejected for a corner. The Barcelona player and Yangel had minutes earlier had the only shots on target in two narrow, centred shots from the edge of the box.

Espanyol knew how to suffer until they found their moment at the start of the second half. The Blanquiazules managed to open the scoring on a counterattack led and finished by Jofre, who crowned one of his best games in the Espanyol shirt by scoring against his hometown team with a shot that went just wide of the post. Oxygenated by the goal, the Blanquiazules became strong at the back again in a final stretch in which Girona pressed again. Joan Garcia avoided the equaliser with a stratospheric save from Danjuma a few minutes from the end, but Stuani made it 1-1 after converting a clear penalty by Urko on Tsygankov.