Girona remembered that they were a Champions League team at the time the draw for the competition was being made and they knew they would face Liverpool, Arsenal, PSG and Milan. The memory was activated in the team despite the many changes that have taken place in their squad and they rediscovered the sensations, the connections, the goals and the victory against a sad Osasuna. Tsygankov’s left foot continues to make the difference after the departure of Savinho, Dovbyk and Álex García. And the essence remains at the end of the day because Girona is a team of authors and the coach is Michel.
4
Paulo Gazzaniga, Miguel Gutierrez, Alejandro Frances, Daley Blind, David Lopez, Yangel Herrera (Oriol Romeu, min. 63), Bryan Gil (Donny van de Beek, min. 80), Viktor Tsyhankov (Portu, min. 80), Ivan Martin, Abel Ruiz (Yaser Asprilla, min. 73) and Bojan Miovski (Cristhian Stuani, min. 63)
0
Sergio Herrera, Jorge Herrando, Alejandro Catena, Nacho Vidal, Juan Cruz, Bryan Zaragoza (Iker Benito, min. 67), Jon Moncayola (Rubén García, min. 58), Aimar Oroz (Pablo Ibáñez, min. 58), Moi Gómez , Lucas Torró (Javi Martínez, min. 84) and Ante Budimir (Raúl García, min. 57)
Goals
1-0 min. 33: Bryan Gil Salvatierra. 2-0 min. 52: Tsygankov. 3-0 min. 55: Abel Ruiz. 4-0 min. 89: Stuani
The coach, upset that those around him “think more about those who left than those who are here”, presented a line-up consistent with his optimism and the need to gain speed and punch compared to the games against Betis and Atlético, two games in which he picked up one point, the same result in any case as last season against both rivals at the Villamarín and the Metropolitano. Three games, three line-ups, three different shirts and three different results for a Girona that received Osasuna without a midfielder —Oriol Romeu— and with two forwards —Abel Ruiz and Miovski—.
The excitement of the white and red team contrasted with the calm of Vicente Moreno’s team, who remained very still on their pitch, satisfied with the four points they have in the League. Osasuna lost such comfort, limiting themselves to defending and playing without the ball, waiting for the attacks of Girona and the sharp Bryan Gil. The left-footer finally managed to finish off a beautiful cross from the right by Tsygankov at the far post. Although the chances were few, Gil’s foreshortening in a recovery by Martín rewarded Girona’s effort and pace.
The goal calmed the red-and-white team, who began to control the game more, better at pressing than at creating, closely watched by Osasuna’s marking. It was not surprising, therefore, that the 2-0 came the same as the 1-0 and that the scorer was Tyskankov. The Ukrainian crossed the ball with his left foot after a turn in a play by Gil. The 3-0 fell immediately, although in a different way and after a long possession, in a strong and tight shot by Abel Ruiz after a pass with the chest of Herrera.
The change of pace and the debut of Asprilla, who assisted Stuani’s goal (4-0), helped to end a match that was decided very early by Girona’s more recognisable direct football against an insubstantial Osasuna side – they didn’t even shoot. There was plenty of time to review the Champions League draw and applaud the excellent game plan of the brave and wise Michel.
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