Míchel said, in the preview, that “no Girona game in the Champions League can go unnoticed.” It was an attempt to give value to the continental feat of their people. The coach was not wrong with his pupils’ visit to the Philips Stadion, but unfortunately in Enidhoven the only thing that stood out was the fiasco of a powerless Girona team that ended up beaten by PSV. After three days competing at the highest level, on Dutch soil the red and whites succumbed to their appearance as beginners in the competition, clearly outclassed and with no arguments to fight for victory.
The Catalans managed to present a reliable eleven, already with youth player Selvi, debutant in the Champions League, settled in the midfield for the fourth game in a row. But on the bench, due to the string of injuries, there were hardly any replacements of guarantees, most of them inexperienced youth players. It was noticeable in a match against a very physical opponent that required effort for the 90 minutes, especially in a second half that they faced mostly with ten players because of Arnau’s red card.
PSV’s defeat in the previous round against Ajax fueled the hope of the people of Girona, the complete opposite of the two-year streak without losing at the home of the current champion and leader of the Eredivisie. Girona chased early shadows that only began to find light through isolated occasions. Yangel Herrera tested goalkeeper Benítez with a header coming off a corner. Then came the point-blank stop inside the area, from a shot by Miovski, which could have changed the dynamics of the match in favor of the visitors.
Having missed the moment, Bosz’s men, who were looking for their first European victory, began their harassment and knockdown of Gazzaniga. The Argentine deflected a powerful shot from Tillman and in the continuation of the play he took another hand to Til. The third time he couldn’t do anything. As a corner kick, Tillman took it on the verge of illegality, with his left foot practically inside the field, only with his heel touching the lime line, and Flamingo finished too easily into the net. The center-back anticipated Selvi and the ball touched David López before lodging in the net.
Despite the blow, Girona showed personality. The game was played in the first half on a ledge. Míchel’s men accumulated players in attack, at the risk of leaving the defense unguarded, and the Dutch put pressure on the man who was hanging on to the duels in each marking. Losing the ball in both cases meant danger and the balance of daring fell in favor of the local side.
PSV, with more possession and dominance, found the gaps in the Catalans’ fragile defense, first Bakayoko, who forced Gazzaniga to intervene again, and especially Tillman. The winger took a highway on the left that took him unopposed to the heart of the area. Arnau lost his mark and David López did not come to help before the German shot a Gazzaniga who failed to cover his stick.
Far from Girona reacting in the second half, the game fell little by little, without a hint of a turn in the script, in favor of PSV. Bryan Gil, the only one with overflow and depth, a key aspect for Míchel, was losing steam against a rival who did not take his foot off the accelerator. The ex-Blaugrana De Jong, with a shot against the post when a goal was already called, gave Girona some faith, but Arnau was in charge of burying any option. The full-back had seen the first yellow for protesting and earned the second with a clear foul on Lang.
In inferiority, PSV’s chances followed one another against a Girona that practically did not go beyond its field. De Jong failed again on goal and Til, also alone, imitated him minutes later. Saibari did score, after getting rid of three defenders, but Michael Oliver, at the request of the VAR, annulled the goal due to a previous stomp on Krejci.
Not even technology saved Girona when Bakayoko, faster and more powerful in the slalom than the youthful Minsu, scored with a shot from outside the area. Outmatched in every facet, Girona’s team was also unlucky in the fourth goal, an own goal by Krejci after a save by Gazzaniga. In the middle of the Dutch party, with cheers from the stands, Girona ended up frustrated and immersed in a small tangana with Stuani as the protagonist. The dream of the Champions League turned into a nightmare in Eindhoven.
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