Football - La Liga

Stuani saves Girona twice in one week

The Uruguayan eased relegation worries with his equalizer against Valencia.

Cristhian Stuani, celebrating the equalizing goal
15/03/2025
2 min

Girona"I've never been so bored as I am now," said some Girona fans after a sleepy first half. Míchel has dug himself in, trying to get a team that isn't working. Against Valencia, he again used Bojan Miovski at the top of the attack. Watching the Macedonian make moves that aren't fully understood is starting to get you desperate. It's true that there isn't much to choose from, but it's worrying that the Vallecas coach isn't correctly interpreting what's happening to him. The whistle on Miovski was resounding. Within a minute on the pitch, Stuani had already created more danger. Within five, he had already scored. For the second time this week, the number 7 salvaged a point, neutralizing Diego López's opening goal (1-1). Relegation remains seven points behind.

Although the feeling remains poor and Girona isn't scoring three points, the draw provides some grounds for confidence that the ship won't sink, leaving corpses around it. Because this has been the biggest headache of the last two months, in which the symptoms have gradually set off all the alarm bells. Even the most frightened have mentioned Eusebio Sacristán's name more than once, recalling the season in which Girona seemed saved and, suddenly, defeat after defeat, returned to the Second Division. That year, the hardship was not getting anything. This time, that's not happening, and in the last three matches, the team has drawn three times. They are meeting their minimum goal.

The maximum goal, which requires playing football in line with the Madrid native's performance during his entire tenure on the bench, has seemed impossible for days. However, as we enter March, only the results matter. The team is suffering the consequences of a planning process in which their bets haven't gone as expected, and the fatigue from the mental and physical demands of competing in three competitions at the same time. Therefore, the priority is to achieve salvation. Whatever the cost. If he's playing badly, so be it. Any other fate would do irreparable damage.

Before the goals in the stadium, the goalkeepers were the protagonists. Gazzaniga and Mamardashvili made great saves: the Argentine on Sadiq and the Georgian on Arnau, deflecting just enough for the ball to hit the woodwork. The game was already 0-1, thanks to a Diego López goal, before Míchel reconsidered, benched Miovski, and called on Stuani. The Uruguayan salvaged the second point in six days after securing a draw in Cornellà. He will perform miracles all his life.

  • Girona: Gazzaniga, Arnau, Krejci, Blind, Miguel, Arthur (Oriol Romeu, 59'), Iván Martín (Van de Beek, 37'), Yangel Herrera, Tsygankov (Portu, 85'), Danjuma (Asprilla, 85') and Miovski (Stu). Coach: Míchel Sánchez.
  • Valencia: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Mosquera, Diakhaby, Tárrega, Gayá, Barrenechea (Pepelu, 88'), Javi Guerra, Diego López (Fran Pérez, 88'), Almeida (Rioja, 70') and Sadiq (Rafa Mir, 70'). Coach: Carlos Corberán.
  • Goals: 0-1 Diego López (58') and 1-1 Stuani (64').
  • Referee: Munuera Montero (Andalusian Committee).
  • Yellow cards: Yangel Herrera (18'), Gayà (67') and Van de Beek (93').
  • Red cards: None.
  • Stadium: Montilivi, 10,262 spectators.
stats