After three years that have become eternal, Girona once again feels like a First Class team. However, at its premiere in Mestalla there were far from any reasons to celebrate. Míchel's ambition and illusion lead him to think beyond permanence, but the reality, today, is different. As was seen against Valencia, there are still many preliminary steps to be taken before dreaming big. The market is still open and the team will need more reinforcements to raise the level. This did not mean that the Catalan team stopped being competitive against the Che team, but they hardly gave a sense of danger against a rival who played almost the entire second half with one less player.
Neither approach was surprising at first. The coach Gattuso is antagonistic to the soccer player Gattuso. He had shown it in Napoli and in his debut in an official match with the team that he trusted his proactive idea from the start of the play. Míchel was also faithful to the plan that led him to promotion, with the team well planted on the field trying to get out quickly and attack the spaces.
The Catalan team started well, especially with sparks from a promising Riquelme, but the locals quickly took over the game. They affected especially by the band of Yan Couto. The offensive projection of the Girona winger on loan from City may bring joy to the Atletico fans in the future, but he suffers in the back if he has to dance with facing wingers such as winger Lino, one of the best of the afternoon.
That dominance of Valencia did not translate sometimes either. Only the defensive doubts behind and the accumulation of losses put Girona in a bind. An inopportune clearance by David López almost ended in an own goal and a ball given by Francisco that Hugo Duro failed to shoot on goal shrank the hearts of the Catalan fans displaced to the capital of Túria. The misfortune would come just before the break, when Figueroa Vázquez did not hesitate to signal a penalty for Valery's handball. The lane player from L'Escala extended his arm while he was at the barrier and the ball hit him between the collarbone and the arm. Carlos Soler, who finally stays in Paterna, masterfully executed the launch from eleven meters.
Girona had to take a step forward after the break to try not to return home empty-handed. He had hardly been seen around the Mamardashvili area. As soon as the second half began, there was a glimmer of hope when the VAR alerted the Andalusian referee that he should send Cömert to the street after a hard tackle from behind on Taty Castellanos. The referee's decision heated up the atmosphere in Mestalla and the game hardened.
With one more player on the field, there were no more excuses. Girona had to go all out in search of a draw. Míchel put all the meat on the grill with a triple offensive change. He parked the defense of three and brought in the youth squad Ureña, the newcomer Miguel Gutiérrez and Stuani. It was time to cling to the Uruguayan, but neither he nor any other Atletico player was able to make Valencia uncomfortable.
The Catalan team was too static in their attacks and without ideas to dismantle a rival who hardly noticed playing with one less. In fact, with Girona upside down with more heart than head, they managed to score a second goal by debutant Nico González, canceled because the player on loan from Barça was offside.
This is only the beginning, but in Mestalla it was clear that there is a lot of work ahead.
1 - Valencia: Mamardashvili, Thierry Correia, Cömert, Diakhaby, Jesús Vázquez (Lato, m.73), Hugo Guillamón, Musah, Carlos Soler (Foulquier, m.62), Samu Castillejo (Maxi Gómez, m.73) Hugo Duro (Mosquera , m.53) and Samuel Lino (Nico, m.73).
0 - Girona: Juan Carlos, Yan Couto (Arnau, m.82), Bueno, David López (Stuani, m.62), Juampe, Valery (Gutiérrez, m.62 Aleix García, Terrats (Yangel Herrera, m.74) , Sanu Saiz (Ureña, m.62), Castellanos and Riquelme.GoL 1st,
Goal: 1-0, m.45: Carlos Soler, also penalty.
Referee: Figueroa Vázquez (Andalusian committee). He warned for Valencia to Thierry (m.56) and Jesus Vazquez, m.69) and for Girona to Yan Couto (m.14) , Samu Sáiz (m.44) and Valery (m.45). Dismissed with straight red to local Cömert (m.51)
Incidents: Match of the first day of LaLiga Santander played in Mestalla before 39,359 spectators. In the 14th minute there was general applause for José Luis Gayá, captain of Valencia, who has completed this Sunday the first match of the four of the sanction imposed for his statements about an arbitration last season.
