Girona confirmed its strong form with a decisive win in Seville, extending a streak of four consecutive victories over Andalusian clubs. The Catalan side showcased its attacking efficiency against an opponent that, despite a brave effort, had limited opportunities, even as VAR ruled out a second-half goal and a late penalty appeal was waved off at the start.
In the opening minutes, Venezuelan Yangel Herrera opened the scoring for the visitors while Serbian Nemanja Gudelj equalized for the home team, leaving the halftime score tied. The balance shifted after the break when Aleix García found Girona’s net again, illustrating the visitors’ sharp start to the campaign with two wins and one draw. Sevilla, by contrast, was the only side in the competition yet to find the back of the net in the first three rounds.
José Luis Mendilibar’s side began the match in need of a result to lift spirits after a challenging start. The Sevilla lineup approached the game with caution, aware of Girona’s recent momentum. It was a familiar scenario for Mendilibar, who faced his former club as a Sevilla player in a 0-2 loss in this venue last season, a reminder that Girona could disrupt even seasoned defenses.
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The home team survived early pressure as Madrid coach Michel Sánchez steadied his players. The first corner of the match belonged to the guests, signaling Girona’s potential danger.
Fifteen minutes in, Girona capitalized on a second corner when a clearance mishap left Swiss midfielder Djibril Sow undecided, allowing Yangel Herrera to strike. His shot beat Serbian goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, giving the visitors the lead.
The home side pressed to respond, with Suso Fernández active on the right flank and Iván Rakitic operating with less presence in central areas. Yet Girona repeatedly threatened on the counter, and Savinho Moreira, the Brazilian teenager, nearly extended the lead after Dmitrovic made a crucial stop.
With the hydration break concluded, Sevilla maintained the initiative in search of a second goal, a pattern reminiscent of early-season fixtures. A corner created the tying goal when Gudelj headed in at the near post, and the first half concluded with Suso Fernández striking the crossbar, keeping the score 1-1 as teams headed to the break.
The start of the second half mirrored the early tempo, with Sevilla pushing high and Girona absorbing pressure. The visitors took advantage of a momentary lapse in Rakitic’s defense and extended their lead through Aleix García, a well-taken shot that reinforced Girona’s advantage.
Moments later, Rakitic pulled one back for Girona with a composed finish, restoring parity at 2-2. A potential late winner for the home side was denied by the VAR, which ruled out a goal for offside while Adriá Pedrosa saw a rising ball brush the stanchion in a close call.
Savinho remained the standout player of the night for his dazzling runs and close-range efforts. He came closest to a decisive third for Girona, only to hit the post as the ball rebounded to safety. The referee, Gil Manzano, also waved away a penalty appeal from David López, a decision that sparked some frustration from Mendilibar’s bench.
As the clock wound down, Rakitic’s free kick produced one final surge for Girona, but the moment failed to translate into a winner. The late action underscored a match full of intent, with both sides seeking control of the pace and rhythm.
– Data sheet:
1 – Sevilla: Dmitrovic; Navas, Badé, Gudelj, Pedrosa; Rakitic, Sow; Ocampos, Suso, Oliver Torres (Lamela); En-Nesyri.
2 – Girona: Gazzaniga; Arnau (Couto), David López, Blind, Miguel; Aleix Garcia, Herrera (Juanpe); Tsygankov (Valery), Iván Martín, Savinho (Pablo Torre); Stuani (Dovbyk).
Goals: 0-1, 16 min Herrera; 1-1, 46+ min Gudelj; 1-2, 56 min Aleix García; 2-2, 60 min Rakitic.
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano. The visitors were warned by Arnau (37) and the locals by Ocampos (58) and Kike Salas (74, placeholder).
Events: The third-round LaLiga match was played before 29,304 spectators at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. After the final whistle, Sevilla’s management faced a chorus of discontent from the stands.