The Girona party (in Barcelona) couldn't last forever

BarcelonaNothing lasts forever. Neither crises nor fireworks. Girona lost the magic of trips to Barcelona, ​​where they recently returned home with their pockets full and a laugh from ear to ear. Because you have to go back more than seven years to find the last time they had lost. It was February 2018, and many things have changed since then. At Barça, in fact, no one remains from that day.

The only one is Ter Stegen, and he is currently injured. Reviewing the chosen Barça players, there are three retired players (Piqué, Vermaelen, and Paulinho), four who now play in the United States (Jordi Alba, Busquets, Messi, and Luis Suárez), one in Brazil (Coutinho), one in Italy (Sergi Roberto), two in France (Dembélé and Umtiti). Fourteen players in total, because the pandemic had not yet arrived and only three substitutions could be made. On the bench were Cillessen, Iniesta, Digne, and Aleix Vidal. The coach was Ernesto Valverde, and the president was Josep Maria Bartomeu. The matches, of course, were played at Camp Nou. Lamine Yamal was only 10 years old. Juanpe, Portu, and Stuani, three legends, remain from Girona.

This figure is tricky because in between there were three seasons in the Second Division that prevented the Catalan derby from enjoying greater continuity. But the Girona team, as they've grown, have grown bolder. That February of 2018, as fans were mingling and mingling in the stands, amidst selfies and congratulatory pats on the shoulder for having reached the First Division, they took the lead in the second minute. It was a blink of an eye, because the match ended 6-1. Since Girona, in the eyes of Barça fans, was sympathetic, it was even a bit funny that for a brief moment they were winning, because in the end they were losing. It was like a reward for their character that didn't affect the final result. In the supposed logic that always says the big one beats the little one. But that would change.

Three visits, scoring

For Barça, each away game against Girona, which saw points on its next three visits, was less enjoyable. First, a 2-2 draw with a brace from Stuani. As it was Matchday 5, it didn't hurt entirely, as it neither influenced nor was decisive. Back then, Girona snatched a Catalan Super Cup (1-0), also with a goal from the Uruguayan, but the title didn't matter. Relegation distanced them from each other, and things didn't get any worse until Míchel's arrival and their return to the elite.

Because the first away game was a 0-0 draw in 2022-23. The second was a bombshell. It was the night Girona's name appeared in every corner of the planet. A historic 4-2 defeat that angered Barcelona fans, who dreamed of their team playing like the players who wore red and white. Girona played like angels, emerging top of the table, generating the envy of Montjuïc. And they would confirm this in the second half of the season, with another 4-2 victory that would anger Laporta and lead to Xavi's dismissal.

Montilivi's men no longer play like angels, but they are still a thorn in Barça's side: thanks to Gazzaniga's saves and Danjuma's action, they made the leaders suffer, even though it was only for a short time. And it wasn't easy, considering that some want it and others struggle. Flick's team, their pride wounded, got revenge with a double 4-1 victory. In less than a season, two sides of the same coin.

Girona's image wasn't strengthened by the derby because little of that freshness from the past remains, and the momentum is even more negative: they've won just one game in the last ten matches, with a record of 6 points out of 30 at stake. Relegation is still a long way off, seven points away, but on Saturday Montilivi visits Alavés, a direct rival. The team needs to win once and for all and stop living in fear. They've conspired to avoid problems. "I'm worried because the team's line isn't what I want," Míchel assured. "Look at Barça, they play the way Flick wants them to. I have to get Girona to play the way Míchel wants them to."