It’s very good that the important thing is to participate, especially when it is the first and unexpected time that you compete in the lustrous Champions League. But no one is aware that winning is one of the best feelings in football. That satisfaction when leaving the packed stadium. Looking forward to reviewing the plays and soaking up all the details the next day. And that smile that appears on your face all week remembering the moment. Well, after two bitter days, Girona and its fans already know what it is to taste a victory in Europe, the first in its history. The victim was an unknown Slovan Bratislava who succumbed in a Montilivi filled with goals from Miguel and Juanpe.
With nine absent and only 12 field players available, the new additions to Míchel’s eleven were Stuani and Juanpe, the only logical replacements for a bench full of homegrown players. It was surprising to see Arnau leaving the side to be the defensive pivot and Iván Martín acting as a right winger, an emergency resource to give more width to the attack. The invention lasted 20 minutes, the time it took for Martín to get injured. More drama.
It didn’t matter to a dominant Girona, with 75% possession, against a Slovakian team looking for a counterattack. Girona moved and moved the ball in search of dismantling the defensive framework of Weiss’s team. Miguel Gutiérrez tried it, with a timid shot, and then Danjuma, the most incisive. Both teamed up with the third party to inaugurate the electronic one. The Dutchman got rid of Blackman on the wing to center and the full-back, for the umpteenth time entering inside, finished into the net when the break was already in sight.
Despite the victory, Girona regretted two other injuries: Iván Martín and Van de Beek
After the restart, Danjuma continued in tune and caused Takac’s first stop. The goalkeeper then excelled in a header from Miovski. The red and whites continued to take risks, with their defense advanced. The ball was moving in Bratislava’s field, from side to side, but the calming goal came from a set piece. Juanpe, with a powerful and placed free kick, sealed three revitalizing and healing points.
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The party, however, could not be complete, first due to Van de Beek’s withdrawal with physical problems and finally with Stuani’s missed penalty, after an innocent handball by Gajdos. Nothing prevented Montilivi from ending up making the wave and the players celebrating the victory with the stands. Girona is already enjoying the Champions League.
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Technical sheet:
Girona, 2 – Slovan Bratislava, 0
Girona: Gazzaniga; Francés, Juanpe, Krejci, Miguel; Arnau, Herrera; Iván Martín (Miovski, min. 24), Van de Beek (David López, min. 83), Danjuma; and Stuani.
Slovan Bratislava: Takac; Bajric, Kashia, Wimmer; Blackman, Ihnatenko (Marcelli, min. 78), Savvidis (Gajdos, min. 84), Zuberu; Barseghyan, Tolic (Szoke, min. 84) and Strelec (Metsoko, min. 84).
Goals: 1-0, min. 42: Michael. 2-0, min. 73: Juanpe.
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic (Romania). He admonished the local French (min. 45) and the visitors Tolic (min. 16), Ihnatenko (min. 69) and Barseghyan (min. 71).
Incidents: Match on the third day of the league phase of the Champions League played at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi in front of 9,246 fans.
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