Girona and Osasuna settle for a 1-1 draw amid tense LaLiga contest

Girona and Osasuna settled for a 1-1 draw on Sunday, a result that leaves the Catalans stuck in a winless spell and keeps Navarre on the fringe of European hopes for another week. Villarreal, meanwhile, grabbed the win that mattered for their campaign.

Against a resilient Osasuna, Girona showed signs of improvement after a tougher spell and briefly escaped relegation pressure. With Getafe coming to Vigo, the added point does not completely dispel lingering doubts about their consistency.

The match opened with Girona controlling possession, enjoying about 65 percent of the ball during the early stages. Sergio Herrera, back in goal after a midweek international window, faced no immediate danger, while Paolo Gazzaniga took over between the posts for Girona, replacing Juan Carlos Martín.

Míchel Sánchez responded to Girona’s vulnerability with defensive shuffles, bringing in Yan Couto, David López, and Javi Hernández to shore up the back line. This came after a 1-0 victory over Espanyol, as Jagoba Arrasate’s Osasuna pushed to extend their rally with a decisive moment in the 7th minute.

An injury to Ez Abde briefly disrupted Osasuna, but Kike Barja, stepping in on the left, broke the stalemate in the 37th minute. He seized a defensive lapse from Girona, intercepted a ball from Couto, and fired a precise shot into the top corner, a moment that disappointed the hosts in their bid to keep a clean slate after eleven successive league games without one.

Osasuna grew into the game, taking initiative as the clock moved forward. Rubén Peña’s curved strike and Nacho Vidal’s header from a tight angle near the near post tested Gazzaniga, who stood his ground for the home side. Girona, for their part, pressed higher, using Couto and Yangel Herrera to probe the wings in search of a decisive finish, yet found no consistent final touch in the penalty area.

The Catalans did find a late equalizer in first-half stoppage time, a moment that reshaped the momentum. Aleix García delivered a free kick, Taty Castellanos touched the ball to create a clever setup, and David López crashed the ball in from close range to level the score at 1-1 just before the break.

The second half featured renewed tempo and ambition from both sides. In the 6th minute, Gazzaniga saved a fierce effort from Jon Moncayola, pushing the ball away for a corner, and ten minutes later Míchel Fernández again reshuffled his options with Rodrigo Riquelme and Valery Fernandez entering the fray to sharpen the attack.

Girona, buoyed by the home crowd, asserted more authority after the break, taking a leading role in the second act. The visitors pressed for a second goal, but their offence lacked the necessary incision, and the game swung back and forth with neither side able to secure a winner. There were notable chances, including a header from Unai García and a one-on-one chance for Cristhian Stuani that narrowly missed, leaving the scoreboard unchanged and the contest in a delicate balance.

The match, the eleventh round of LaLiga Santander, took place before 10,032 spectators at Montilivi, where both teams left the pitch with important, if not decisive, results that will influence their standings in the coming fixtures.

1 – Girona: Juan Carlos; Yan Couto, Santi Bueno, David López, Javi Hernández (Miguel, min. 74); Herrera (Reinier, min. 74), Romeu, Aleix García, Toni Villa (Riquelme, min. 55); Manu Vallejo (Valery, min. 55) and Castellanos (Stuani, min. 81).

1 – Osasuna: Sergio Herrera; Nacho Vidal, Unai Garcia, Juan Cruz, Manu Sanchez; Moncayola, Torró (Darko, min. 64), Moi Gómez (Ibáñez, min. 82); Rubén Peña (Aimar, min. 64), Chimy Ávila (Kike García, min. 82) and Abde (Kike Barja, min. 8).

Goals: 1-0, min. 37: Kike Barja. 1-1, min. 45+1: David López.

Judge: Pulido Santana (Canary Islands). Locals warned Miguel (min. 88) and Reinier (min. 89) and visitors Torró (min. 45), Nacho Vidal (min. 70) and Juan Cruz (min. 72).

Events: The LaLiga Santander clash drew 10,032 fans to Montilivi, offering a lively spectacle that kept both clubs in the conversation about Europe and safety from relegation in a competitive campaign.