Cristhian Stuani is a chosen one. "I don't know if I deserve this much. But today's performance moves me," he said, minutes after the feat, his voice breaking. He couldn't even continue speaking. He had to stop because he was crying. "It's very emotional, very emotional." In Pucela, in Girona's most critical situation in recent times, he separated the waters for the Girona team to remain in the First Division. The victory in Valladolid (0-1) puts permanence in the top flight within reach. It could be mathematically a foregone conclusion in the coming hours, depending on what their direct rivals do.

Cristhian Stuani is a chosen one. "I don't know if I deserve this much. But today's performance moves me," he said, minutes after the feat, his voice breaking. He couldn't even continue speaking. He had to stop because he was crying. "It's very emotional, very emotional." In Pucela, in Girona's most critical situation in recent times, he separated the waters for the Girona team to remain in the First Division. The victory in Valladolid (0-1) puts permanence in the top flight within reach. It could be mathematically a foregone conclusion in the coming hours, depending on what their direct rivals do.

It was barely 10:30 a.m. when Míchel appeared at Girona's training grounds in Vilablareix. He'd been there for a while, working in his office, already fully discharged. Every second counts in this final stretch of the season. After Thursday's scare, when he was rushed to the hospital with a "deep vein thrombosis in his left leg," the coach is preparing for Tuesday's final in Valladolid (7 p.m., Movistar LaLiga).

One step closer. Barça continues to edge closer to the La Liga title and will host Real Madrid next week at the Estadio Olimpico, aware that a win will seal the competition. But everything in life comes at a price, and to take the three points from Valladolid, they had to grit their teeth and work hard to avoid a setback that would have hurt. Flick's team did what they had to do, defeating José Zorrilla, but at halftime, more than a few Barça fans were rubbing their eyes watching Barça lose to a crumbling team. It was certainly the ideal match to make rotations, but Flick's team almost got their fingers cut in a duel that ended with Gavi injured. Nothing is easy, and nothing is given to you. Anyone who saw themselves as champions before their time was wrong.

To win titles you have to be able to suffer. You also have to know how to win games when things don't work out, when it seems like you lack purpose, energy and spirit. That euphoric Barça that ate up rivals not so many days ago got back to work after a break for players to join their national teams. The timing was not good, as Barça was closing the gap with Atlético. However, instead of playing like angels, Koeman's side choked against a Valladolid side that held out until the final minute when Dembélé, previously erratic and aimless, scored the goal that put Koeman's side to within a single point of the lead (1-0).