They were Bryan Gil, Ounahi, and Vanat, but deep down it was Portu, reincarnated in each and every one of the players who have worn the Girona shirt at La Cartuja. With different names, they paid him the best possible tribute. They ran like him, believing in every ball, no matter how impossible it seemed. They persisted like him, chasing the opposing goal with the desire of a teenager. They defended the badge like him, with the same passion with which the man from Murcia captivated the Montilivi crowd. The entire Girona team was Portu today. His spirit was more present than ever and almost secured the three points, but Betis, in the final stretch, equalized Vanat's opening goal (1-1).

Christian Portuguese, Portu, alongside Cristhian Stuani, has been the hero of Girona's permanence in the First Division. The Murcian has shaken up the Atlético attack in recent weeks: in Leganés he provided an assist and earned a red card, against Mallorca he created the opportunity for the goal, in Valladolid he made a – disallowed – goal before the Uruguayan put the icing on the cake in a heart-stopping final stretch, which the team, Sebastià – having done his homework – scored more than a year after the last time. However, the fates of Portu and Girona could have been very different.

"I've seen a lot of players come through Girona. A lot. Now, if we're talking about players with real commitment, the number drops quite a bit. Having them or not changes everything, everything. Especially when you have to stretch your skills. With them, things are always easier," explains Albert Mateos, who was in charge of the Real Madrid midfield and was tied to the veterans and the Genuine team, of which he is also the creator.

It was the perfect night. It couldn't have been better. Portu and Stuani, finally starting, were providing the adrenaline rush Girona needed. They had made it 1-0, a goal that moved the relegation zone five points away. It was golden, a victory that broke the losing streak. But a mistake, yet another act of selfishness from Danjuma, who instead of holding onto the ball in the 92nd minute and closing out the game, decided to leave it open by waging war on his own, gave Leganés wings, who edged two points clear of their opponents, who knows if they'll miss them at the end of the La Liga season (1-1). Everything remains the same, with the relegation zone three points away. There are fifteen more at stake.

It was the perfect night. It couldn't have been better. Portu and Stuani, finally starting, were providing the adrenaline rush Girona needed. They had made it 1-0, a goal that moved the relegation zone five points away. It was golden, a victory that broke the losing streak. But a lapse in focus, yet another act of selfishness from Danjuma—who instead of keeping the ball in the 92nd minute and closing out the game, decided to leave it open by waging war on his own—spurred Leganés on, who edged two points clear of their chances of missing them at the end of the La Liga season (1-1). Everything remains the same, with the relegation zone three points away. There are fifteen more to play for.