Everything has an end, in life. Two of the most important figures in Girona's history, protagonists of the current sporting boom it is experiencing, in which it has strung together four consecutive seasons in the First Division and has real arguments to secure a fifth, have contracts ending in June and their continuity at Montilivi is not clear. Míchel Sánchez and Cristhian Stuani have ninety days to decide their future.

Girona will go into the international break with the same 34 points they had before their clear 1-0 defeat in Pamplona. The narrow margin of victory is only thanks to the outstanding performance of Paulo Gazzaniga, who only conceded a shot from Budimir in the 80th minute. Girona's performance, a stark contrast to their recent form, was disappointing.

Right across from the church in Riudarenes, a town of just over 2,500 inhabitants, stands a farmhouse with stone walls and a beamed ceiling, over 300 years old, proudly displaying the flags of Girona and Catalonia. This is Restaurante Can Cordons. "We try to make dishes respecting traditional cuisine, but with a modern touch," says Pau Turon (Riudarenes, 2000), its owner for the last eight years. "We met at the Girona Hospitality School," replies Gerard Picard (Girona, 1995), the chef. "Even though I'm now in the dining room, I'm also a cook," Turon asserts. That's not all they share, as they are also big Girona fans, although Picard has a bit of a Barcelona side. "Now I'm a little more of a Girona fan than a Barça fan," he admits. Míchel's team visits Osasuna this Saturday (6:30 p.m., Movistar LaLiga).

Montilivi rose to its feet to applaud Ounahi in the final stages of a match he almost single-handedly won. The Moroccan was key to Girona's important 3-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao, creating the play that led to Rincón's goal and scoring the second himself in the dying moments. Gazzaniga kept the scoreline in check with several impressive saves, and Echeverri sealed the win at the end. But the star of the show was the Moroccan, for whom a ticket is worth the price of admission, despite today's high prices.

Strong emotions are intense psychological and physiological reactions such as fear, extreme joy, anger, or amazement, often experienced in high-risk situations, adventures, or significant life changes. It's said that these experiences activate the nervous system, release adrenaline, and generate a feeling of alertness or intense pleasure. Almost 100% of those who attend a Girona match wholeheartedly agree with these statements, knowing full well the stakes they face when the weekend arrives and their team takes to the pitch. In 2026, Míchel's team, along with Elche, has decided the most matches, for better or for worse, after the 85th minute. Up to 5 of the 10 matches they've played since the start of the new year—half of them—have tested the hearts of the fans, who are already accustomed to heart-stopping moments in recent seasons. Because nobody ever knows what's going to happen in a Girona match, which can even lead to surreal comebacks or events that would be illogical elsewhere, just when the game seems settled. At Montilivi, no one can take anything for granted before the final whistle, because there are enough historical precedents to remind us of the famous saying, "Don't say wheat until it's in the sack and tightly tied." They know this well in Girona.

Girona had seen it all but over. They were already imagining themselves heading home angry, and for their own shortcomings. But a Girona native, Joel Roca, appeared to save what was a dreadful match against Levante (1-1), a draw that would have meant a significant setback in their fight to stay in the First Division. The Camprodon native's goal wasn't without its mysteries, because it was initially disallowed unjustly. Those were seconds of utter injustice, transformed into joy when VAR intervened, and after reviewing the footage and confirming the goal was perfectly legal, he reversed his decision. The last-minute point, combined with Mallorca's draw, keeps their cushion above the relegation zone at two matchdays.

At 20 years old, Vitor Reis (São José dos Campos, Brazil, 2006) has already experienced more than most people will in a lifetime. "I signed for Palmeiras when I was 10, at 15 I left my parents' house to live in a residence with some of my teammates, and at 16 I became completely independent and moved into my own apartment." The story continues with his debut in the Brasileirão at 18 and a move to a different continent at 19, after Manchester City noticed him and invested nearly 40 million euros. And there's more: six months ago, just before being loaned to Montilivi, also at 19, he got married. "It's a blessing to have my wife by my side. I'm convinced that if it weren't for her, I wouldn't feel so good in Girona." Recently, the couple added a dog to their family.

Girona were going at full speed, believing themselves all-powerful at halftime, confident of a lead against Celta. It didn't matter that it was their only shot, nor that the Galicians had hit the post twice. The Girona players felt capable of anything, but when the visitors finally broke through, their dream came to an end, and they were brought back down to earth (1-2). That mentality speaks volumes about Girona, of course. And after everything they've had to endure this season, who is anyone to tell them how to feel now that they're doing well?

"It drove a lot of people crazy, me first and foremost," says Jaume Duran, scorer of the first goal in Girona's historic return to the Second Division almost five decades later. In August 2008, at Balaídos stadium, the former Banyoles striker became the protagonist of a fairy tale: just two weeks earlier he was playing for Palamós in the Third Division. "I signed by sheer luck, because Girona came to the Costa Brava to play a friendly and everything went my way. Every time I got the ball, I'd sprint past my defender. They were looking for a left winger and the coach, Raül Agné, had already seen me. But that match was key and in less than two weeks I was a starter."

Girona came close to victory for much of the match in an entertaining encounter against Alavés, who snatched two points in the final minute (2-2). However, the Girona side continues to boast Champions League-caliber statistics for 2026, having accumulated more points in eight matches than only Real Madrid and Barcelona.

April 4, 2023, at San Mamés. Extra time is being played in the Copa del Rey semi-final between Athletic Club and Osasuna. In the 115th minute, Pablo Ibáñez, then playing for Osasuna, scores the decisive goal that sends the Navarrese side to the final. He dedicates the goal to his cousin, the young Hugo Rincón, who was playing for Bilbao Athletic at the time and was in the stands. They created the emotional image of the day, captured by cameras embracing in a flood of tears, a moment that quickly went viral. This Monday, they will face each other for the second time in La Liga in the Alavés-Girona match at Mendizorrotza (9 p.m., Movistar LaLiga). The first time was in the Montilivi match in November. Today, they share the dream that both have fulfilled.

Barça lost their lead at Montilivi on a disastrous night (2-1), a continuation of the thrashing they suffered in the Copa del Rey against Atlético. Outplayed by a Girona side that never lost faith, they clung to Joan Garcia to hold onto the advantage given to them by Cubarsí's goal. But they hadn't counted on Girona's tenacity, who came back with goals from Lemar and Fran Beltrán, the latter in the dying moments. Girona will not soon forget a day that will go down in history.

For the past couple of months, an empty storefront near Girona's Stone Bridge has garnered media attention and been the target of criticism and graffiti due to its supposed future use. The reason is that Barça had planned to open an official store there, a move that hasn't gone down well with some local fans, who consider it an offensive gesture, given that Girona's official store is located just a few meters away, in a symbolic spot on the Rambla de la Libertad, very close to where the club was founded in 1930. As of now, there's no guarantee that Barça will actually go ahead with the project. Off-field rivalries aside, in purely sporting terms, Míchel's Girona and Flick's Barça will face off in the Catalan derby at Montilivi this Monday (9 pm, DAZN).

Watching Girona is quite entertaining. Their matches lack a set script: anything can happen. In Seville, in the match that had to be postponed yesterday due to the storm MartenThey salvaged a 1-1 draw that left a bitter taste, as they had victory within their grasp several times. They found themselves leading 1-0 in stoppage time, having protected the result like a precious treasure and squandering numerous chances. They were still winning, however, until a slip by Echeverri in the 92nd minute, when he had the ball under control and only needed to clear it, allowed Kike Salas to score a stunning goal. The frustration gave way to hope with a penalty in the 98th minute. Míchel quickly brought on Stuani, who was on the bench, but the Uruguayan was denied by Vlachodimos, the true hero of the match.

Upon arriving in Girona, Àlex Moreno made a brief stop in Llagostera. He visited the football pitch, where he strolled leisurely for nearly fifteen minutes, reminiscing about a short but particularly intense period in his football career. Moreno played for Llagostera during the 2012-13 season in Segunda B (the third tier of Spanish football). More than a decade later, last summer he returned to Catalonia to sign for Míchel Sánchez's team, where he has played every minute so far, as there is no one to replace him. However, the player has suffered a serious injury and will be sidelined for approximately six weeks due to a calf strain, as reported by [the club/unclear]. Cadena SerThis is the second unexpected setback in just a few days, following Ter Stegen's injury, which will require surgery this Friday. It seems like witchcraft.

Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a serious muscle injury in the league match of Girona on Saturday at Oviedo's ground. Pending further tests and a clearer diagnosis agreed upon by Girona and Barcelona, ​​initial examinations suggest the German goalkeeper could be sidelined for two months, and may even require further surgery. Girona has already issued a statement saying that "Marc-André ter Stegen has a left hamstring injury. The player will undergo further medical tests to finalize the diagnosis and establish a prognosis."

It had to be a former Girona player, and a native of Girona, who stabbed Girona in the back in Oviedo. Ilyas Chaira punished Míchel's men for their abysmal performance, deservedly suffering their first defeat of 2026 against the bottom-placed team in La Liga (1-0). Anyone who thought the Rojiblancos' objective would be anything more than staying up is sorely mistaken. Reaching 42 points is the only goal. For now, they have 25.

Last Saturday, as dusk was falling, Yasser Asprilla emerged from the Istanbul airport terminal. A multitude of Galatasaray fans awaited him, quickly embracing their new signing. Turkish supporters are incredibly passionate, and without having seen a single minute of the Colombian's playing time, they have already elevated him to sainthood. Limited by strict security measures protecting the footballer, they shouted and sang incessantly. All that was missing was confetti. The reception was worthy of a star. Asprilla, looking both happy and a little scared, crossed himself. At the same time, but more than 2,000 kilometers away, in Girona, they were content with a farewell that, for now, is temporary, as he is leaving on loan with a non-mandatory purchase option, but one that seems destined to become permanent.

Just when they least expected it, Girona escaped defeat with an epic goal from Vitor Reis in stoppage time. Getafe had infuriated the Montilivi crowd, who were angry with the refereeing decisions, their opponents, and the world. Luckily, the center-back appeared, courageously finishing off a ball that extends Girona's unbeaten run into 2026, and Ter Stegen prevented a 1-2 scoreline in the final moments. Relegation remains a distant memory, four points away.

It was early 2009 when a seventeen-year-old striker appeared in the old Montilivi press room, demolished years before, accompanied by a translator. His name was Hiroshi Ibusuki, and he was a promising young player for Girona who went viral without the need for social media, which was still in its infancy. The club's official website received a flood of Japanese visitors who crashed the internet asking what on earth this club was, a club then experiencing its first season in the Second Division after fifty years.