In an exhilarating match at the Municipal Stadium of Montilivi, Girona completely outshone Athletic Bilbao, sealing a decisive 3-0 triumph in the 28th round of La Liga. The local team opened the scoring early, with Hugo Rincón finding the back of the net just 3 minutes into the game, dazzling fans with a spectacular finish following a cross from Viktor Tsygankov.
The momentum did not wane for Girona as they continued to press forward in the second half. Azzedine Ounahi doubled the lead with a well-executed goal in the 32nd minute, demonstrating the team’s relentless attacking spirit. Claudio Echeverri then capped off the scoring by finding the net just minutes after the restart, further solidifying Girona’s dominance on the pitch.
A highlight of the match was undoubtedly Rincón’s early goal, which set the tone for the rest of the contest. His performance was instrumental, earning him the title of the match’s best player after netting one goal.
Also pivotal in Girona’s victory was goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who delivered a stellar performance with 8 saves and 39 successful passes, ensuring the clean sheet.
On the tactical front, Girona’s manager, Miguel Sánchez Muñoz, deployed a 4-5-1 formation, featuring Gazzaniga in goal; a defense line consisting of Hugo Rincón, Alejandro Francés, Daley Blind, and Arnau Martinez; a midfield comprising Fran Beltrán, Axel Witsel, Azzedine Ounahi, Joel Roca, and Viktor Tsygankov; with Vladyslav Vanat leading the attack.
Conversely, Athletic Bilbao, led by Ernesto Valverde, opted for a 4-4-2 setup, with Unai Simón guarding the goal, and a defensive lineup of Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Aymeric Laporte, and Yuri Berchiche. Their midfield included Iñigo Ruiz, Mikel Jauregizar, Oihan Sancet, and Robert Navarro, supported up front by Álex Berenguer and Iñaki Williams.
The match was officiated by referee Iosu Galech Apezteguía.
Looking ahead, Girona is set to visit Osasuna in their next outing, while Athletic Bilbao will host Betis. Currently, Girona occupies the 12th spot in the standings with 34 points, while Athletic Bilbao sits in 10th place with 35 points.
Substitutions for Girona
- 69’ 2T – Vladyslav Vanat replaced by Claudio Echeverri
- 70’ 2T – Fran Beltrán replaced by Iván Martín
- 82’ 2T – Joel Roca replaced by Álex Moreno; Azzedine Ounahi replaced by Abel Ruíz
- 92’ 2T – Alejandro Francés replaced by David López
Substitutions for Athletic Bilbao
- 0’ 1T – Robert Navarro replaced by Gorka Guruzeta; Andoni Gorosabel replaced by Jesús Areso
- 68’ 2T – Mikel Jauregizar replaced by Mikel Vesga
- 73’ 2T – Oihan Sancet replaced by Nicolás Serrano
- 78’ 2T – Iñaki Williams replaced by Urko Izeta
Yellow Cards for Athletic Bilbao:
- 28’ 2T – Oihan Sancet (Unsporting behavior)
- 36’ 2T – Álex Berenguer (Unsporting behavior)