Girona competes on one knee in defeat in Pamplona

GironaGirona 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.

Osasuna is not a team that deceives. On the contrary, when you face the Navarrese side, you know what to expect: uncompromising intensity, numerous crosses into the opposing penalty area, and an almost religious pursuit of second balls. Girona, despite being inferior because they haven't mastered any of these concepts, deserves credit for having the ability to shed the label of being a team that plays beautiful football and adopt a more modest image, closing their eyes and gritting their teeth. However, Girona wasn't Girona.

Míchel's men barely had possession, even though they endured the pressure with extreme concentration for most of the match. The key to the score remaining unchanged lies in Gazzaniga's performance, who once again delivered a great game. The Argentine goalkeeper systematically thwarted all of Girona's attacks, which were focused on the talent of Víctor Muñoz, who was called up to the Spanish national team this week by Luis de la Fuente. His performance against Girona, consistent with his form throughout the season, did not go unnoticed. Muñoz had two clear chances before the twentieth minute, forcing the Girona goalkeeper to make a couple of reflex saves. It wasn't enough, though. Gazzaniga, while controlling a long-range shot from Rosier and deflecting a header from Boyomo, instilled confidence in his teammates, who lacked the ability to support him. They played with one knee on the ground, diminishing their chances of getting any points. No shots on target.

The other negative aspect is that Girona's attack didn't appear until the second half, and even then, very timidly. The Rojiblancos' connections were far from their usual level, and Ounahi, one of the players with the most potential to break free from a difficult situation, found neither openings nor freedom. In fact, the team didn't manage a single shot on target.

Discredited for much of the season – he even endured the club looking for a replacement – ​​Gazzaniga, whose defining characteristic is his personality, expanded his repertoire in the final stages. Once again, Muñoz's threat pushed him to the limit with a double chance. He could do nothing about a shot from the league's third-highest scorer, Ante Budimir, who abandoned his usual inhibitions and made the save with his first opportunity. In stoppage time, far from having any real chances of equalizing, Gazzaniga continued to make saves. Relegation is now six points away.