Infiltrated and untrained: this is how Stuani is diverted for Girona

GironaOnce again, Cristhian Stuani came to Girona's rescue at Vallecas. The Uruguayan's shot into the back of the net in the 90th minute earned a draw for Míchel's team, who host Real Sociedad this Thursday (8 p.m., Movistar LaLiga) on a key day for survival in LaLiga. The Girona players still depend on themselves to stay up, but the situation is dire: there are a lot of teams tied with 39 points, including Girona, who could start the match in the relegation zone if the involved teams do their jobs correctly.

Stuani's sense of belonging and commitment, as the dressing room's first captain, is indisputable, after a long nine-season spell at Montilivi. The number 7 holds a multitude of records: he is the living footballer with the most appearances in the club's history, with 308, and he is also the top scorer the Girona team has ever had, with 146 goals. Collectively, he has witnessed the entity's golden age, not without its struggles: they have been relegated to the Second Division and have lost play-off finals for promotion, but they have also been promoted and have been amazed by trips to Paris or Milan to play in the Champions League.

More important than continental stars are the stays in the elite, of which, of course, he is a protagonist. He was last season, when the team reached the end of the season, as now, with their tongues hanging out and their heads full of ghosts. Stuani, a regular substitute, returned to the starting eleven at the end of April and with three decisive goals saved Míchel's Girona, who today again needs help.

Prioritizing the collective

From the Uruguayan, he has all the help and more, and regarding the numbers, it was already noted in Vallecas, with his first goal of 2026. Between the few minutes he has available and injuries, Stuani hadn't scored since October. His importance, over the years, has been gradually increasing, coinciding with the role change he has undergone on the field, but neither that, nor his age – he will soon be forty –, nor the uncertainty about his future – his contract ends in June –, nor the emotional wear and tear he has undergone has made him lose his hunger: every time he steps onto the field, he doesn't hesitate to pull the cart and lead the group.

And, of course, he leads by example: the Uruguayan could not train in the days leading up to the visit to Rayo due to a knee problem and, instead of backing out or staying home and resting, he asked to be injected at halftime to get a few minutes and be with his teammates. The effort paid off, in the form of a goal. If he has to do it again at the end of this season, he will. It is a habitual gesture of commitment, which he has already repeated in other critical – and not so critical – situations in recent years.

During these months, the red-and-white legend has performed invisible tasks that have allowed the team not to collapse completely, despite the bad start to the season and the many games it spent at the bottom of the standings. Stuani is fundamental for the coexistence of a locker room full of egos that do not always prioritize the collective. Stuani does, for Stuani, Girona always comes first. From the bench or from the field, he will give his all in the remaining three finals with the objective of keeping the club in the First Division.