Girona climb into LaLiga top half with comfortable win over Sevilla
That remarkable 4-2 humbling of the reigning LaLiga champions last time out had Girona brimming with confidence, and despite facing a Sevilla side on a five-game unbeaten run in LaLiga, they started well and took their chance to stun a sold-out Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Rodrigo Riquelme had perhaps been the visitors’ most dangerous outlet in the first 20 minutes, and his corner looped over everyone except Juanpe, who connected perfectly on the volley to guide his shot inside the post, with a perplexed Rojiblancos goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic watching on.
Sevilla struggled to reassert themselves afterwards and tempers flared on and off the pitch, but they still managed to convert some of that passion into openings, and a fantastic reflex save from Paulo Gazzaniga was all that prevented Bryan Gil from firing Gonzalo Montiel’s cross in for the equaliser.
Possibly fearing the wrath of coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, there was an air of desperation about Sevilla’s attempts to draw level before the break, but tame efforts from Youssef En-Nesyri and Gil barely tested Gazzaniga’s resolve.
Staring in the face of a first defeat under their new boss, Sevilla lacked composure in attack, and their job was made all the more difficult as they were hit on the break in the 55th minute for a crushing final blow.
The excellent Riquelme drove from the halfway line to thunder a shot against the crossbar, and it was last week’s four-goal hero Taty Castellanos who profited from the resulting melee, smashing in a second to seal Girona’s victory and a deserved ascent into eighth place – a potential highest-ever LaLiga finish for the Blanquivermells.
Fans were expecting a swift response from the home side, but while they peppered the Girona box with crosses, there was little in the way of quality to turn them goalward.
Suso’s introduction made a difference in the closing stages, but it was too little too late for Sevilla, who always lacked the cutting edge that they showed in their run to the upcoming UEFA Europa League semi-finals.
The competition is likely now something they have to win for a record-expanding seventh time if they want to play continental football again next campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Rodrigo Riquelme (Girona)