In Matchday 15 of the Liga, Elche delivered a stunning performance, besting Girona 3-0 thanks to a standout display from forward Rafael Mir, who netted two goals during the second half of the match. Mir opened the scoring just 5 minutes into the second half, followed by another strike 11 minutes later, showcasing his exceptional skill. Germán Valera also contributed to the scoreline, finding the net in the 39th minute of the first half with a spectacular shot from outside the area after receiving a pass from Héctor Fort, sending the ball into the left corner of the goal.
Rafael Mir emerged as the standout player on the pitch, concluding the match with two goals, three shots on target, and 14 successful passes. Midfielder Aleix Febas also made a significant impact, completing 52 passes, intercepting the ball 4 times, and registering three attempts on goal.
Elche’s head coach, Eder Sarabia, implemented a 3-5-2 formation, with Iñaki Peña guarding the net, and Víctor Chust, David Affengruber, and Pedro Bigas forming the defensive line. The midfield comprised Héctor Fort, Álvaro Núñez, Marc Aguado, Aleix Febas, and Germán Valera, while Grady Diangana and Rafael Mir were the two forwards up top.
On the opposing side, Girona, led by Miguel Sánchez Muñoz, opted for a 4-3-3 setup, featuring Paulo Gazzaniga in goal, and a back line made up of Alejandro Francés, Vitor Reis, Daley Blind, and Álex Moreno. In midfield, Yáser Asprilla, Axel Witsel, and Iván Martín operated, while Viktor Tsygankov, Vladyslav Vanat, and Bryan Gil formed the attacking trio.
Referee Miguel Sesma Espinosa oversaw the match proceedings, which concluded with Elche earning 19 points, placing them ninth in the league standings. Girona remains struggling with only 12 points, positioned at eighteenth place.
Substitutions for Elche
45’ 2T – Grady Diangana off for Rodrigo Mendoza
58’ 2T – Pedro Bigas off for Léo Pétrot; Héctor Fort off for Josán Fernández
70’ 2T – Germán Valera off for Adriá Pedrosa
81’ 2T – Marc Aguado off for John Donald
Substitutions for Girona
65’ 2T – Axel Witsel off for Jhon Solis; Vladyslav Vanat off for Thomas Lemar; Yáser Asprilla off for Joel Roca
71’ 2T – Alejandro Francés off for Hugo Rincón
82’ 2T – Viktor Tsygankov off for Juan Arango
Yellow Cards for Girona:
16’ 1T – Bryan Gil (Unsporting behavior), 39’ 2T – Juan Arango (Unsporting behavior); 41’ 2T – Iván Martín (Unsporting behavior).
Looking ahead, Elche will travel to Mallorca for their next fixture, while Girona is set to face Real Sociedad away at Reale Arena.