Girona took advantage of a drifting Valencia, empty in a season that was too long for this very limited squad, and tied its third position in the League with a victory (1-3) based on the good style it has exhibited during 37 days . He seemed to hesitate in the last steps, but Mestalla was an unbeatable opportunity to round off an outstanding season. Valencia, with more arrival than the scoreboard says, although with disastrous aim, has now gone six games in a row without winning. A penalty goal from Pepelu in the final minutes ended a streak of three games without scoring.
1
Mamardashvili, Cenk Özkacar (Gayá, min. 60), Foulquier (Thierry Correia, min. 45), Cristhian Ibarguen, Yarek Gasiorowski, Diego López, Sergi Canos, Javi Guerra, Pepelu, Alberto Mari (Yaremchuk, min. 60) and Hugo Hard (Peter Federico, min. 45)
3

Gazzaniga, Eric Garcia (Juanpe, min. 68), Daley Blind, David López, Arnau Martinez, Aleix García, Tsygankov (Portu, min. 68), Iván Martín, Yangel Herrera (Valery Fernández, min. 73), Sávio (Jastin García, min. 73) and Dovbyk (Stuani, min. 78)
Goals 0-1 min. 32: Savio. 0-2 min. 57: Dovbyk. 0-3 min. 66: Yarek Gasiorowski (pp). 1-3 min. 84: Pepelu.
Referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez
Yellow cards Foulquier (min. 26) and Thierry Correia (min. 91)
Valencia, who seem to have nothing left in their pockets, tried to rebel in their style, four or five passes and a ball into the area, against a Girona with more resources, the ability to develop their attacks and incentives in the twilight of the League . Baraja put Diego López back on the wing. The young black and white player is grateful to have a highway to bring out his talent and serve balls full of intention for Hugo Duro and Canós. The first seems to have gone dry, like his team, and the second did not have the afternoon and missed two clear chances. In the first, almost without an angle, he shot against Gazzaniga’s body, and in the second, after great control that allowed him to stay alone in the area, he shot at the base of the post.
Girona was much more precise and although at the beginning they ran into Mamardashvili several times, who knows if in his farewell to Mestalla, the goalkeeper who left several actions that he has wasted this brilliant season, ended up doubling his opponent. Savinho beat the Georgian goalkeeper in the final stretch of a first half in which he had been the best and in which he once again left that effervescence that makes him so special. The young Brazilian is a problem for all defenses. Baraja, aware of his malice, ordered Diego López to help Foulquier in defense, the only way to stand up to him.
Valencia, resigned with its Skoda as Baraja defined it this week, has the final stretch of the League to spare. It seemed that he arrived with inertia to enter Europe, where he has been missing in seven seasons of Peter Lim’s decade as owner of the club, but he has deflated strikingly and there have already been six days without a toast. A sad end to a very meritorious season.
Girona, on the other hand, at the top since the season began, having become the great entertainer of this League, showed its well-worked and well-stitched team. Míchel has put together a team that weaves plays with patience and pleasure, that orders Savinho and Tsygankov to stain their cleats with lime so that the rival has to be gutted. He didn’t do any more damage because Mosquera held off Dovbyk in a fierce and magnificent fight between giants.
Baraja moved his chips at half-time and put Peter Federico and Thierry Rendall on the board, who in three minutes had already created a dangerous play that Alberto Marí headed too high. Valencia, lacking a consistent game, relied on conviction, intention, and courage. Faced with this threat, Girona decided to keep the ball and put their rival to sleep. In one of those long attacks, Tsygankov, a player with the ability to often find advantageous situations, allowed Iván Martín to assist Dobvyk to score and stay in the fight for top scorer.
Faced with this second blow, Baraja looked at the bench again and uncovered Gayá. He needed someone capable of reaching the rival area. Another shot in the air. Girona continued to do their thing and in the 67th minute added their third goal, thanks to an own goal by Cenk after another good action by Tsygankov. An excessive affront for many fans, who got up and left Mestalla. Adding to the misfortunes for Valencia was an injury to Gayá, who lasted 11 minutes on the pitch and left with a worried face because his presence in the Euro Cup could be in jeopardy.
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