Hi community!
The Catalans were unable to overcome the Austrians and, despite their dominance, they regretted one of the few errors in the area.
Míchel's team is left with one foot out of the Champions League.
Girona suffered a terrible defeat against Sturm Graz, which leaves them in a very difficult position if they want to progress to the next round of the Champions League. Errors in the penalty area and a lack of offensive force condemned a team that dominated almost the entire match.
The Wörthersee Stadium was fantastically well attended, despite being some 150 kilometres from Graz. That didn't stop 25,000 fans of the home team from taking transport to get to the venue that hosted the match. Nothing to say, either, about the atmosphere, which was on par with the match and with a tireless fan base that never stopped cheering on their team.
Even so, the Girona team held on to the 16% that, according to artificial intelligence, would allow the team to enter the next phase of the tournament. The ball, as usual, was the best weapon for Míchel's team for a good part of the match, seeking to avoid the back-and-forth.
Despite the characteristic cold of the area, Bryan Gil began to warm up as the minutes passed, being the best player in the first half. His forays down both wings were accompanied by the clearest danger for the Girona team, leaving shots from Iván Martín - who came on as an emergency substitute due to Van de Beek's gastroenteritis at the last minute - and Viktor Tsygankov.
It was also from the left that the most dangerous player for the home team was seen. Böving was the man who created the most danger inside, testing Gazzaniga on more than one occasion and creating some problems for the Girona defence. Otherwise, everything was disorderly in terms of the Austrian attacks, who used their heart more than their head. Of course, with great physical display and with some duels that reached the limit.
The first half, however, did not end without the clearest chance of the entire match and, probably of the entire Champions League round, with Iván Martín wasting it. The Murcian failed 20 centimetres from the goal line after a magnificent play and subsequent pass from Bryan Gil. The ball, inexplicably, went through the roof, trying to get out in the 'zappings' of glaring errors.
The Catalans kept trying, although in the last part of the first half they lost control of the situation. Perhaps for that reason, at 51 minutes of the match, Míchel brought on Yaser Asprilla, precisely for Iván Martín, who went to the bench with a sour face.
Far from changing the situation, the worst was yet to come. Playing with fire and being soft had consequences for the 'blanc-i-vermells', who saw how their opponent got ahead in a play on the right wing. Gazzaniga stopped the first shot, but did not do so in the rebound that Biereth caught to spring the surprise (59'). Girona put in a higher gear, but the Austrians grew and gained confidence.
Within a few minutes, the coach from Vallecas used up all five substitutions, putting everything on the line and leaving only the two centre-backs behind and completely invading the opposition's zone. The rival, in return and feeling comfortable, reinforced their wall and closed up completely, completely forgetting about the line from the centre of the field forward. Lots of passing, lots of insistence, but little danger.
There were no gaps, not a hole to get into. Not even Abel Ruiz's cross shot, followed by Stuani's good finish in stoppage time, gave way to any joy for Girona, who rowed and rowed to once again stay on the shore. Thus, Girona left Klagenfurt empty-handed, giving way to Sturm Graz's first victory in the competition and significantly undermining the hopes of being able to stay alive in the tournament at the end of the group stage.
See You soon! 🏐
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