With some rotations but without trust, Girona arrived in Elche to debut in the Copa del Rey. Míchel wants the League's revelation team, his team, to also grow in this competition. Let him begin to familiarize himself with what it means to play two games a week in case, as everything indicates, the music of the Champions League plays next year. And, although at times he suffered, he brought out his always reliable collective spirit to give his fans the qualification for the round of 16 of the Cup thanks to the magic of his particular wise men: Daley Blind and Yan Couto.
With Juan Carlos occupying the goal, without Aleix Garcia but with Portu, Stuani and Yan Couto, Míchel's team had a hard time getting going at the Martínez Valero. He lacked control and possession and the team noticed it in Elche's high pressure, which harassed him a lot when getting the ball out. Nico Fernández's crosses on the right wing and Tete Morente's runs on the left unsettled Girona in the early stages of the match. A defensive error by Eric Garcia could have cost him dearly. Lucky for Juan Carlos who, in his first appearance of the season, pulled off a miraculous hand from behind the sticks to send a Chetauya ball for a corner. In fact, Eric Garcia hurt his right knee minutes later after a seemingly simple pass with practically no power. He left injured.
In his place came Daley Blind. The Dutchman soon became the protagonist. In scoring his second goal of the season after the one he scored against Atlético de Madrid. The play was traced. In a corner kick that Portu served and Solís combed, Blind, well positioned at the far post, pushed the ball with the toe of his boot
After the break, the script was the same. Sebastián Becaccece, Elche coach, pulled his hair out in his technical area when he saw how Juan Carlos avoided Mourad's equalizer after Iván Martín lost the ball. Juan Carlos asked his teammates for more concentration. Just like Michel. There was a lack of calm. Coincidence or not, Aleix Garcia and Pablo Torre began running on the grass.
Meanwhile, Yan Couto began to prove himself with a cross shot that San Román saved. The Brazilian, after dressing up as King Gaspar in the Fornells de la Selva parade, wanted to leave his gift. He achieved it after a magnificent combination with Portu. The winning goal gave Girona peace of mind. And Juan Carlos kept it impeccably stopping a header from Mendoza to avoid mishaps. Girona will play the round of 16 in two weeks. Míchel's men remain intractable, also in the Cup.
0 - Elche: St. Roman; Carreira, Mario Gaspar (Fidel, min. 88), Bigas (Josan, min. 63), Clerk; Rodri Mendoza, John Chetauya, Phoebus (Nico Castro, 74 mins), Tete Morente, Nico Fernandez (Borja Garces, 88 mins) and Mourad (Sergio Leon, 74 mins).
2 - Girona: Juan Carlos; Yan Couto, Eric García (Blind, min. 29), Juanpe, Miguel, Portu (Aleix García, min. 84), Arnau, Jhon Solís (Ibra, min. 73), Valery, Iván Martín (Pablo Torre, min. 84 ) and Stuani (Dovbyk, min. 73).
Goals: 0-1, min. 36: Blind. 0-2, min. 66: Yan Couto.
Referee: Alberola Rojas (Castilian-La Mancha Committee). He showed a yellow card to Pedro Bigas and Tete Morente for Elche.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey played at the Martínez Valero stadium in front of 15,518 spectators.
