Girona absolves sins and gets emotional with the return of Portu

GironaGirona accelerates with their fourth victory in the last five matchdays on a perfect and emotional night against Albacete (2-0), in which goals from Abel Ruiz and Van de Beek, saves by Paulo Gazzaniga, and the visitors' lack of accuracy tipped the scales. The sentimental note was provided by Portu, who returned to the pitch ten months after his injury. He received a massive ovation.

Fortune, too often elusive for those at Montilivi, smiled more than ever in a first half that no one believed would end 2-0. Quique Álvarez's men, conditioned by a dozen absences between the international break and muscle injuries, took to the pitch with practically everything they had. They didn't play beautiful football nor did they control the weight of the match, but they were effective in the face of the impotence of the second-to-last placed team, which tried in a thousand different ways, all in vain.

For some time now, Abel Ruiz and Van de Beek have had a target on their backs. They arrived the summer of the Champions League, with sky-high expectations and the weight of their predecessors, names like Savinho and Dovbyk. Inevitably, their presence is associated with the dark era of the entity, that of the slow and agonizing destruction of a great team that now bites the dust in the Second Division. And, of course, the fans, hurt by not enjoying themselves as they once did, point the finger at them. Everyone needs culprits when their heart is broken. Against Albacete, they were absolved of part of their sins with two goals at opportune moments, in almost the only two decent local opportunities of the first act.

For the rest, the red-and-white squad should invite Paulo Gazzaniga to dinner, as he once again put in a prodigious performance and prevented the visitors from scoring several times, who also hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions from Soberón and Ortuño. The La Mancha side, immersed in a delicate situation in the table, competed with self-respect. But when the ball doesn't want to go in, there is nothing you can do. Surely, it must be recognized that even a draw would not have done them justice, because they did enough to win.

The lack of players from the Girona first team meant that Quique Álvarez not only started Javi Sarasa, but also played Juan Arango, the son of the legendary Venezuelan former footballer for Mallorca in the mid-2000s, famous for his free-kick goals. But the music was provided by Portu, embraced by a Montilivi that was eager to see him again. The Murcian has been missed.