Girona silences with a great triumph the hostility and the 'Long live Spain' of El Molinón

GironaGirona is finally starting to fire on all cylinders and has secured its second consecutive league victory at Sporting's ground (0-2), placing them in the upper part of the Second Division standings. Standout performances came from top scorer Yáser Asprilla, Carles Pérez, who opened his account with a fine goal, and Paulo Gazzaniga, who made amends for past performances. The Girona players survived a very hostile atmosphere with professionalism and efficiency.

The enmity between Sporting and Girona has its origin in the 2014-15 season, during which, together with Betis, they fought fiercely for the two promotion spots to the First Division. The Asturians and the Catalans arrived at the final matchday so evenly matched that both had possibilities of moving up. The Girona players, even though they had the upper hand, blew it in stoppage time in the final at Montilivi against Lugo. Sporting, which in case of a slip-up also had to overcome the disadvantage in the goal average to be promoted, won in a relaxed and suspicious manner on the field of Betis, who were already champions. This opened the door to an animosity that, as the years have passed, has not diminished.

For this reason, it has not been at all strange that Girona has had a most hostile reception, full of whistles, shouts, and insults of all kinds. The atmosphere has gradually heated up, with some scuffles. Junior and Otero have clashed on several occasions; and it is worth highlighting the personality of the teenager, only seventeen years old, who was not scared when the Colombian seemed to lose his cool. Corredera and Asprilla also exchanged unpleasant words and some shoves, after the red-and-white goalscorer reproached the local midfielder for having tried to kick Izan without the ball. The crowd, as a response to the frustration and as if wanting to puff out their chests to intimidate, sang the Que viva España. It is not the only stadium where this happens when a Catalan team is the opponent.

Asprilla's dance

It did not take long for Girona to silence El Molinón. Half an hour had not yet passed when a long ball from Gazzaniga from his own area allowed Asprilla to take advantage of the opposing defense being distracted to find himself alone in front of Yáñez and beat him with a chip. The Colombian, the category's top scorer so far with four goals in four matchdays – the same number of goals as in the 50 matches he had played since he was signed – celebrated by dancing, a fact that further incited the stands. The Argentine goalkeeper, highly questioned in recent weeks, comes out of the action vindicated, as he was sharp at the start of the play. When the ball kissed the net, some players, such as Fran Beltrán, David López, and Francés, ran to hug him, and not the Colombian, despite him being the author of the goal.

Gazzaniga continued his personal vindication after the break and saved the draw at the feet of Andrés Cuenca. The third name of the afternoon was Carles Pérez, who made his debut in the red-and-white jersey and took advantage of the spaces that opened up in the final stretch to seal the match with a diagonal run and a good cross-shot. The victory allows Girona to lift their spirits after a strange summer.