Girona overpower Mallorca in a 5-3 La Liga thriller to top the table

In Montilivi this Saturday, Míchel Sánchez’s Girona claimed a stunning 5-3 victory over Mallorca, marking the club’s fifth win of the season. The result cements Girona’s ascent into the upper echelon of La Liga, signaling Champions League ambitions as they hold the lead with momentum built in six matches. The early season form has Girona stacking goals and points with the table position solidifying alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona in the standings.

David López, Artem Dovbyk, Iván Martín, and Yangel Herrera opened the scoring for Girona in the first half, delivering a dominant performance. Savio Moreira added a goal early in the second half to extend the advantage, while Girona’s relentless pressure kept Mallorca on the back foot and set the stage for a comprehensive win. The catalyst was a 16-point haul from 18 available, supported by a robust goal tally of 16 after six fixtures, underscoring Girona’s aggressive attacking approach this season.

Abdón Prats offered Mallorca some late life, scoring twice with precise finishes—one from a right-footed strike in the 88th minute and another from a header in stoppage time—yet the comeback came too late to alter the outcome.

Mallorca initially pressed from the start, with Sergi Darder forcing the first shot and Mallorca earning two early corners. A second corner proved decisive as the ball touched Viktor Tsygankov’s hands, and the referee awarded a penalty. Vedat Muriqi converted from the spot to give Mallorca the lead and set the tone for an intense opening period. The save by Gazzaniga was not enough to deny the visitors as they struck first, testing Girona’s resolve from the outset.

Girona responded with remarkable resilience as they absorbed the early pressure, then seized control as the match progressed. Ball possession surged past the three-quarter mark, and the Catalan side capitalized on opportunities with quick, incisive moves that unsettled Mallorca. A scrappy sequence in the area led to a first goal by David López in the 26th minute, spraying energy into Girona’s attack after a morning of sustained pressure.

The equalizer sparked a Girona surge, and the team pushed forward with more players committing to the attack. The 33rd minute brought a decisive moment when a Samú Costa penalty, after a brief VAR review, put Girona ahead. Dovbyk finished with precision to convert the spot kick, giving Girona a late first-half advantage that reflected their growing dominance in the match.

Sávio Moreira then produced a standout moment just before the break with a clever dribble that created space on the left flank. He delivered a perfect ball to Iván Martín, who beat the goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic with a composed strike. This sequence marked Girona’s third goal in the opening 40 minutes of the first half, and the crowd sensed a turning point in the match after a string of confident attacking plays.

⭐️A rising star began to shine in the home side. The jovem winger Sávio Moreira, on loan from ESTAC Troyes, showcased flair with dribbles, assists, and sharp finishing, earning admiration from fans and pundits alike. A brilliant sequence culminated in Dovbyk feeding the ball to the Brazilian winger, who beat Rajkovic with a precise cross to extend the lead.

Yangel Herrera joined the action at the 45th minute and immediately left an impact with a powerful cross from the right wing that helped Girona press forward. At halftime, the manager adjusted the setup from a 5-4-1 to a more dynamic 4-4-2 as Amath Ndiaye replaced Siebe van der Heyden, maintaining Girona’s control of the match. The visitors persisted in seeking a goal, but Girona’s improved balance allowed them to maintain pressure and capitalize on opportunities as the game progressed.

As the second half unfolded, Girona continued to push forward. Savio, whose arrival to Girona has quickly made him a fan favorite, completed a superb team move after a swift exchange with Dovbyk, finishing decisively to bring the score to 5-1 in the 57th minute. The home side’s rhythm did not falter, and the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi remained a hub of excitement as Girona extended their lead with a disciplined display of attacking football.

With the match effectively decided, Abdón Prats added two late goals to finalize the scoreline at 5-3. The late strikes could not change the outcome, but they did highlight Mallorca’s perseverance and the late-stage threat they posed despite Girona’s comprehensive performance in the first 75 minutes.

Data sheet:

5 – Girona: Gazzaniga; Yan Couto, David Lopez, Èric (Juanpe, min. 65), Blind, Miguel; Aleix García, Herrera (Pablo Torre, min. 75); Tsygankov (Portu, min. 62), Iván Martín, Sávio (Valery, min. 76); Dovbyk (Stuani, min. 62).

3 – Majorca: Rajkovic; Maffeo, Valjent, Van der Heyden (Amath, min. 46), Jaume Costa (Lato, min. 65); Morlanes (Larin, min. 65), Samu (Antonio Sánchez, min. 78); Dani Rodríguez, Sergi Darder; Muriqi (Abdón, min. 78).

Goals: 0-1, min. 4: Muriqi, penalty. 1-1, min. 26: David López. 2-1, min. 33: Dovbyk, penalty. 3-1, min. 37: Iván Martín. 4-1, min. 45: Yangel Herrera. 5-1, min. 57: Savio. 5-2, min. 88: Abdón. 5-3, min. 90+5: Abdón.

Judge: González Fuertes (Asturian committee). Local Iván Martín (min. 79) and visitors Samu (min. 31), Jaume Costa (min. 31), Morlanes (min. 33), Dani Rodríguez (min. 38), He warned Javier Aguirre (min. 39). ) and Nastasic (min. 90+1).

Events: The match of the sixth day of LaLiga EA Sports was played in front of 11,511 fans at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi.