Ounahi runs out of adjectives in Girona's important victory against Athletic

GironaMontilivi rose to its feet to applaud Ounahi in the final stages of a match he almost single-handedly won. The Moroccan was key to Girona's important 3-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao, creating the play that led to Rincón's goal and scoring the second himself in the dying moments. Gazzaniga kept the scoreline in check with several impressive saves, and Echeverri sealed the win at the end. But the star of the show was the Moroccan, for whom a ticket is worth the price of admission, despite today's high prices.

Between the Africa Cup of Nations and injuries, Azzedine Ounahi hadn't started a match since December 12th. In recent weeks, Míchel has barely had access to his talent, undoubtedly a game-changer in the Girona dressing room. And despite playing sparingly, his assists lately have also been valuable. It's safe to say that Ounahi is the most dynamic player Girona has had in recent years and one of the best footballers in the club's history. His lack of consistent playing time doesn't change the fact that this is undeniable.

Against Athletic Bilbao, it took him just four minutes to change the game. Girona benefited from a quick and precise switch of play by the Moroccan, who sent the ball into the back of the net after Hugo Rincón unleashed a powerful shot that left the world-class goalkeeper, Unai Simón, rooted to the spot. Rincón didn't celebrate the goal because he is owned by Athletic Bilbao, who didn't include any kind of clause in his contract. Another day, he'll think twice.

Ounahi's performance has been a constant, especially in an entertaining first half where Girona had fun, despite not sealing the victory. Every time the ball reaches him, Montilivi expects something spectacular. The expectations don't weigh on the attacking midfielder, who has shown flashes of brilliance, from a simple, one-touch combination that beat a couple of opponents in one fell swoop. He even delivered a through ball that seemed only possible in his imagination until his feet made it a reality, completely dismantling Valverde's defensive structure, which was powerless in the face of the obvious.

Not even Ramadan has limited Ounahi's repertoire, the most decisive player for a Girona side that must also rely on Blind's contributions in the heart of the defense. The Dutchman not only plays every minute at 35, but he also leads by example, demonstrating how to do things right. Just after Rincón's goal, Iñaki Williams tried to break into Gazzaniga's area, but the goalkeeper tackled him to prevent further trouble. Blind also played a key role in the attacking build-up and made several forward runs that nearly led to a second goal, which Vanat almost scored before halftime. During one of these attacking forays, Montilivi appealed for a penalty, but Iosu Galech deemed the contact insufficient.

Ter Stegen applauds Gazzaniga

If Athletic's most notable action in the first half was knocking over a corner flag that Girona was forced to replace, the onslaught after the restart saw Gazzaniga take center stage, making several crucial saves to prevent a draw. Ter Stegen, after many matchdays, seemed to be able to see his teammates' progress live on the pitch.

The Argentine goalkeeper displayed great reflexes, thwarting chances, especially those of Guruzeta, the former Sabadell striker. Iñaki Williams also contributed, sending one of Gazzaniga's rebounds wide with an open net. Montilivi, which saw its lowest attendance of the season due to the heavy rain, silently prayed for Ounahi to create another opportunity. Otherwise, the outcome might have been different.

And Ounahi did. In a counter-attack with ten minutes remaining, Echeverri provided the assist, almost getting caught out, but ended up gifting the goalkeeper a bicycle kick that the match MVP sent into the net. The "Little Devil" redeemed himself by scoring the third goal in the final play of the game. Girona's survival is now closer: they have a nine-point advantage, pending Mallorca's result against Espanyol this Sunday.