There are only seven matches in First Division of a short but growing rivalry. But there are victories, and at the same time defeats, that leave their mark. A before and after in the history of the other Catalan derby. Four goals in the first half hour celebrated a recovered Girona, with the return of several injured players, who once again looked like they did last season. Espanyol, on the other hand, suffered an embarrassment, hopelessly subdued and lost. A blow that hurts morale and the classification, with the parakeets increasingly anchored in the relegation zone.
They faced the weight of history against the success of the newcomer to the elite. The desire of some to continue on the wave against that of others to recover a better past. The fight to find a gap between the long Blaugrana shadow. The capital against the north. The red and white against the blue and white. A duel that ended with a party in Girona and a disaster for the people of Barcelona. It was the wave of Montilivi, who smiled again after a very difficult start to the course. A happiness that contrasted with a silent visiting area, only breaking that silence to point out his own.
They also measured the style of Míchel’s team, offensive and daring, and the lack of definition of Manolo González’s team. The parakeets wanted to press high at the start and it was the first of their sins. Cabrera measured poorly, very far from his position, and Asprilla, starter on his return after injury, found all the time and space he wanted to connect with Bryan Gil who beat Joan García with a cross shot.
Girona monopolized possession, comfortable in all triangulations, the blue and white shadows always late. It took more than a quarter of an hour for a helpless Espanyol to string together three passes. I enjoyed Girona and especially Bryan Gil, electric, who did what he wanted in the face of rival passivity. The winger centered, picked up Cabrera’s faulty rebound, ahead of Sergi Goméz, and gave the second goal to Miovski. The Macedonian, who had zero goals in the League, scored into an empty goal, just like the third goal, again from a cross by Bryan Gil and taking advantage of the facilities of a defense in Babia.
Krejci also made his debut as a scorer for red and white with a shot at the far post, after a corner kick by Van de Beek. Cabrera was in the photo again Four goals in 27 minutes, a feat that Girona had never achieved in the First Division.
Once the match was resolved, the locals took their foot off the accelerator, with González’s team on the canvas. After the restart, Girona was activated and forgave the fifth twice, first Miovski and then Van de Beek. Puado, with an isolated shot, the first between the posts, scored the goal of a damaged honor.
The last half hour was a lull. Neither miraculous reaction on one side nor more cruelty on the other. Míchel had time to introduce those who had already recovered from their injuries, Tsygankov, Iván Martín and Danjuma. The match was paling and only the fans, shouting “Olés” at every pass, remembered that it was a match with rivalry, a derby with a clear Gironi accent.
Source: www.lavanguardia.com
