The spirit of Portu guides Girona at La Cartuja

GironaThey were Bryan Gil, Ounahi, and Vanat, but deep down it was Portu, reincarnated in each and every one of the players who have worn the Girona shirt at La Cartuja. With different names, they paid him the best possible tribute. They ran like him, believing in every ball, no matter how impossible it seemed. They persisted like him, chasing the opposing goal with the desire of a teenager. They defended the badge like him, with the same passion with which the man from Murcia captivated the Montilivi crowd. The entire Girona team was Portu today. His spirit was more present than ever and almost secured the three points, but Betis, in the final stretch, equalized Vanat's opening goal (1-1).

The news of his cruciate ligament injury has broken the hearts of Girona fans this week. Seeing Portu crying, devastated and despondent, knowing he'd miss the rest of the season, when his very optimism had inspired even those who had lost hope, was a devastating blow to the team. That's why Bryan Gil, watching Vanat's shot into the back of the net, ran to the sidelines, where he was given a number 8 jersey. Portu's jersey, of course. Gil and Vanat lifted him up and showed him to the cameras so no one would miss it: the man from Murcia can't help on the pitch, but he'll help from another place. He's still part of Girona.

Míchel's men found strength they didn't know they had. Because to the psychological blow of knowing they couldn't count on Portu, they added having more absences than ever before, a total of eight, which threatened to undermine the group's confidence in a team that had started the match mired in the relegation zone and is not getting out of it. goal averageBut where there's a will, there's a way.

Few had predicted a draw or a double in this match, but Girona came out determined to upset the odds. Thirty seconds later, Tsygankov had already come close to scoring. Later, it was Ounahi who threatened. The team showed aggression and didn't show any signs of mental fatigue from having to withstand and repel the relentless attacks of Pellegrini's men, who were a juggernaut and kept testing them, with Cucho Hernández forcing Arnau into pinpoint saves, Lo Celso, and Fornal all getting their chances.

The game changed with a signature move from Míchel, representative of the best Girona we've seen: Bryan made a run down the wing and assisted Ounahi. We have to pause here, because what the Moroccan did was sublime. He touched the ball gently from inside the box, surrounded by opponents, and placed it right behind Bellerín, giving Bryan Gil an advantage, who was calling for it. What a player, Ounahi. Gil took advantage of the gift to pass to Vanat, who scored his fourth goal of the season. Then, both of them showed Portu's jersey.

Controversial draw

Betis, who upped the tempo, created danger through persistence, with chances for Antony and a highly motivated Isco. At the other end, Tsygankov and Bryan Gil missed opportunities to double the lead. The match was intense until the Andalusians equalized in controversial fashion, because before Gómez's corner, Girona had claimed a foul in the build-up. They narrowly missed out on all three points. Stuani and Asprilla also had chances in stoppage time, with Girona having a numerical advantage after Antony was sent off for kicking Joel Roca in the face. The Colombian's miss was particularly egregious. But the point is a valuable one.