With Girona giving up the favourites, the great unknown was knowing which version Eibar would offer, just four days after losing direct promotion at the last minute and having occupied these privileged positions for much of the season.
And the truth is that Gaizka Garitano's men did not accuse him of anything, enjoying the best chances. At 5 minutes, Arnau had already taken a ball that went in under the sticks, minutes later the crossbar spit out a distant shot by Expósito and before half an hour came Aketxe's great goal, beyond 30 meters, which slipped through Juan Carlos' squad.
The Girona team did not create any danger until after Álvaro Tejero was sent off, just before the break, for an almost consecutive double yellow card.
And it was the usual, Stuani, who a quarter of an hour into the second had the clearest sending a header to the crossbar. Despite the numerical superiority, the marker did not move. The return, on Sunday, in Ipurua.
Girona: Juan Carlos; Arnau, Santi Bueno, Bernardo, Juanpe (Moreno, min. 46), Jairo; Pol Lozano (Iván Martín, min. 46), Aleix García; Álex Baena, Samu Sáiz (Nahuel Bustos, min. 74); and Stuani.
Eibar: Stonemason; Rob Correa, Frederick Venancio, Chema Rodriguez, Alvaro Tejero; Sergio Alvarez, Edu Expository (Xabier Etxeita min. 88); Corps (Arbilla, 46 mins), Aketxe (Yanis Rahmani, 80 mins), Quique (Toño Garcia, 88 mins); and Fran Sol (White Leschuk, min. 63).
Goal: 0-1, min. 28: Aketxe.
Referee: Milla Alvendiz (Andalusian committee). He admonished the local Stuani (min. 42) and the visitors Chema Rodríguez (min. 30), Sergio Álvarez (min. 82), Cantero (min. 87), Rober Correa (min. 90 2) and Yanis Rahmani (min. 90 3). Visitor Álvaro Tejero was sent off for a double yellow card (min. 45 2 and min. 45 3).
Incidents: First leg of the semifinals of the promotion promotion to the First Division, played at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi before 9,450 fans.
