Girona earned a 2-0 victory over Elche in the Copa del Rey round of 32, with Blind scoring in the 37th minute and Yan Couto adding a second in the 67th. Elche arrived with more control and chances, yet the finishing touched nothing on the night. The goals echoed a trend seen in recent league fixtures where both attacking and defensive phases showed improvement that remained out of reach.
Elche-Girona, a Gift for the Three Kings to Enjoy
Elche faced a composed Girona that dictated tempo without flooding the game with possession. The visitors steered the rhythm, taking advantage of defensive slips to forge decisive moments before the break and after, while the home defense was occasionally exposed by quick transitions that gave Girona moments to pounce.
Michael guided the match with a steady approach, avoiding extreme ball domination while pushing the pace when it mattered. Blind found space from a defensive error just before halftime, and Yan Couto sealed the score with a well-timed finish after a rapid move midway through the second half, tipping the balance in Girona’s favor.
Beccacece chose a lineup mirroring recent league selections, keeping San Román in goal to reinforce the defense in place of the unavailable Edgar Badía. The core mirrored the league squad, with John Chetauya operating in a central role and Rodri Mendoza returning as a starter, reflecting a plan built on familiar partnerships and continuity after recent fixtures.
The moment of the duel between Elche and Girona
The opening exchanges saw Elche press high to disrupt Girona’s build from the back. Tete Morente showed intent with a determined run in the first half. Rodri’s header met Nico Fernández’s cross, and Juan Carlos nearly intercepted it at the near post, forcing a corner that sparked renewed energy among the home fans. Two quick corners further ignited the crowd as Elche sought early momentum.
The moment of the duel between Elche and Girona
Good Local Start
Elche’s early pressure paid short term dividends as they pressed Girona high and aimed to disrupt the visitors’ build up. Morente’s spark helped, while Rodri’s run on the left threatened off Nico Fernández’s cross. The home team’s enthusiasm grew with corners piling up and the sense of a breakthrough rising among supporters.
The mystery of Beccacece
As the match progressed, Míchel’s side found a steadier rhythm, though maintaining precise ball possession proved tough. A powerful long range attempt from Miguel Gutiérrez was saved by the keeper, halting a developing threat. Elche continued to push, with Rodri sneaking through Girona’s lines and John Chetauya firing on target, prompting timely saves and blocks from the defense. Mourad also threatened with a header, narrowly missing the mark.
The difference in quality was clear in tempo and ball movement. Yan Couto increasingly posed a threat on the right, his pace and technique piercing Elche’s backline and converting possession into chances for Girona.
In the 28th minute an injury to Eric García brought Blind into action. The Dutch international made a telling impact as he helped Girona break the deadlock in the 37th minute by delivering a cross to a far post area where Blind found space and redirected the ball past San Román, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance. Elche’s momentum dipped, but the fight remained in them as they sought to restore parity before the interval.
Following the opener, Girona grew in confidence and precision, while Elche found it harder to sustain sustained pressure. The first half concluded with Girona holding a slender advantage, their play marked by off ball movements and effective finishing at set pieces.
From 1-1 to 0-2
After halftime Elche adopted a more attacking posture in search of an equalizer. Tete Morente linked well from the right and Rodri fired from a rebound after a turnover, creating genuine chances for a comeback. The young Elche side showed renewed energy and ambition, pushing constantly in pursuit of a decisive goal.
Valery pressed San Román to a parry, and in the 63rd minute Bigas withdrew injured, with Josan coming on to reinforce the defense and reshuffle the back line.
On a quick break in the 67th minute Portu carried the ball forward, laying it off to Yan Couto who finished decisively with a cross shot to double Girona’s advantage. The second goal solidified Girona’s control as Elche pressed to respond, but the scoreline remained unchanged thereafter.
The final phase saw Beccacece rotate his squad, bringing on Nico Castro and Sergio León for Febas and Mourad, while Borja Garcés and Fidel replaced Nico Fernández and Mario Gaspar late on. The match ended with Girona’s 2-0 win and Elche’s Copa del Rey campaign concluding with dignity, having faced a team that emerged as a standout revelation in the top flight and one of the season’s notable stories in world football.
DATA SHEET
ELCHE: San Román, Carreira, Mario Gaspar, Fidel, Pedro Bigas, John Chetauya, Áleix Febas, Rodri Mendoza, Nico Fernández, Tete Morente, Mourad.
GIRONA: Juan Carlos, Arnau Martínez, Eric García, Blind, Juanpe, Miguel Gutiérrez, John Solís, Iván Martín, Valery, Yan Couto, Portu, Stuani.
GOALS: 0-1 Blind, 0-2 Yan Couto.
REFEREE: Alberola Rojas. Yellow card: Pedro Bigas.
STADIUM: Martínez Valero, capacity 15,518.