Girona’s second place in the league is complicated by the defeat against Athletic

GironaEveryone will be angry in Girona because whatever went well turned out to be fatal in San Mamés. The individual mistakes of Míchel’s team condemned him to defeat against Athletic (3:2). Everything he normally does with his eyes closed is clouded, long forgotten. But you must remember, because that is the price you have to pay to defend the style that the people of Girona practice. In Montilivi they have put on their jerseys all season long and turned into hymns of praise for some brave footballers who have managed to be the great revelation of European football. But they won’t always manage to get it right because no one gets everything right all the time. Nobody is perfect.

It is true that no team should allow themselves to concede a goal with an offside call in their favor when two minutes of the game have not yet been played. They play for the league, a place in the Champions League, relegation or another day in any insignificant area of ​​the classification of any professional or amateur category. Because this deficiency is serious. And it is what Girona had at San Mamés to get even more involved in a game that was already complicated enough. But that was because in Montilivi the ball is not given away, but is treated well. Others would have repaired it with a bullet. But not Girona, Girona wants to spoil the ball. And he was left with a baboon face because there were a total of three paw bites that had disastrous consequences and that made Míchel’s people see the wolf’s ears: he remains second, but the gap to Madrid and all rivals is six points they have cut. Valverdes, fifth in the Europa League zone, is already seven points behind.

It was Aleix Garcia, Miguel Gutiérrez and Juanpe Ramírez who were wrong. First, Garcia sent a horizontal pass to Berenguer, who licked his lips before sending the ball into Gazzaniga’s goal as the big duel had just begun. The Ulldecona midfielder had time and form to do something else. But no, he gave the ball to his rival and ensured that the Girona players remained on the scoreboard for another week without practically setting both feet on the pitch. In Madrid it was in the sixth minute; in Bilbao, at two.

Then it was Gutiérrez as Girona managed to rebel after the break, with an attempted advance that Berenguer also took advantage of. And to top it off, Juanpe’s mistake, immediately after Miguel’s, is not at all serious, which led to a rejection that ended with Iñaki Williams almost putting the game to bed thirty minutes before the end, which greatly pleased the Girona players touched. It was torture at the Bernabéu.

Without football it costs more

Despite everything, the problem was that Míchel’s people had forgotten how to generate football. And without that, everything costs more. It was already clear that maintaining the level taught throughout almost the entire season would not be sustainable in the long term. It is logical that there will be a drop in performance. Because it is also known that this template will not completely fall, as some seers predict. In everything, it is the right decision to seek the middle ground. If you find balance, you can gain a lot.

At least he appeared. It was too important an evening not to show up. It had many faces, Girona having a bad time for most of the duel. It was very difficult for him to contain Bilbao’s intensity because Iñaki Williams was very strong and created many opportunities on the left side of the Catalan defense, with Miguel too high and Juanpe too alone. Blind missed him.

Athletic must have been cursing themselves for not going into the break with a clearer lead because if there was one thing Girona liked, it was running to the dressing room to take a breather. It was wonderful for him because he came out with a different aura. It obviously didn’t take long before he was reprimanded for his mistakes. But there were also concrete sparks that made him want to be the old Girona again. This Girona that is afraid of nothing. It was with Tsygankov’s preliminary draw and in the closing stages that Eric Garcia reduced the difference and provided an emotion that would not have been possible without the white-red figure. Dovbyk, Savinho and Solís equalized in stoppage time with a shot that Vivian deflected under the line.

This is the worst run of the season for an undefeated team with a two-game losing streak and a three-game winning streak, which is common at other times but unusual this 2023-24 season. And what now? Well, second place is in danger and to confirm their presence in the Champions League they need to get up soon. There is no other way.