Girona pulls off a dramatic late win over Valladolid with a stunning 88th minute header by Oriol Romeu
In a pulsating clash at Montilivi, Girona defeated Real Valladolid 2-1, sealing the result with an 88th minute header from Oriol Romeu. The victory lifts Girona to ninth place in the standings, collecting seven points from twelve available as the league season approaches its mid-point. The triumph comes after a first-half goal by Reinier Jesus gave Girona an early lead, while Monchu Rodríguez found the net for Valladolid, who remained at the bottom of the table with four points. The result marks Girona’s return to winning ways after a period without a win in their last two fixtures.
The LaLiga Santander match kicked off with energy. Míchel returned to his favored starting XI from the Mallorca game, though an injury to David López during warm-up forced Bernardo Espinosa into the lineup. The early stages suggested a balanced contest with both sides seeking control, and the visitors briefly tested the Girona defense before settling into the rhythm of the game.
Early on, Sergi Guardiola had to come off in the fifth minute for Shon Weissman, who had been pivotal in Monday’s 1-0 victory for Almería and who opened the scoring in this game. Girona began to press with intent after gaining possession, producing the first clear chance when Roque Mesa delivered a strike from the edge of the area that Juan Carlos Martín parried for a corner.
The home team responded swiftly from the set piece. Oriol Romeu timed his run perfectly to meet Sergio Asenjo’s path after a corner was delivered, guiding the ball into the net as his header found the back of the goal. The home crowd celebrated as the lead briefly appeared to extend, with Aleix García orchestrating play and laying on a precise pass for Reinier Jesus to convert Girona’s first league goal of the season. The goal sequence highlighted the early promise shown by Reinier and the growing chemistry between him and his teammates.
Valladolid reacted with urgency as the opening half continued. Luis Pérez left the field due to an injury and was replaced by Iván Fresneda, shifting the dynamic at the back. A potential red card for Anuar Mohamed seemed to loom in the 30th minute after a double yellows incident, but Valladolid steadied themselves. Monchu found space for a long-range effort that forced a save from Juan Carlos, and shortly after, he connected with a post to force a rebounded effort that ended in an equalizer for Valladolid in the 38th minute.
Two minutes later, Gonzalo Plata produced a sharp header that threatened Girona’s lead, which was repelled by Atlético goalkeeper Gonzalo Plata. The end of the first half left the scoreline delicately poised as both teams exchanged chances and the balance of play began to tilt toward a tightly contested second period.
The second half opened with Valladolid pressing for a penalty after a run of attacking moves culminated in a contentious moment near the penalty area. Míchel adjusted his shape, asking his team to press higher and alter the defensive lines to a 4-2-3-1 formation. The tactical shift allowed Girona to regain momentum, with Yan Couto and Toni Villa injecting pace from the wings and helping the Catalans reclaim territory. The visitors remained stubborn in defense, and Girona created opportunities through crosses and well-timed runs from Castellanos and Vallejo to press for a late winner.
As the clock ticked down, Girona continued to push. The home side earned a succession of corner kicks and free-kick opportunities, but Valladolid defended stoutly. In a moment of magic at the 88th minute, Romeu rose to meet Santi Bueno’s long ball and headed the winner beyond the reach of Asenjo, sending Montilivi into a frenzy and earning Girona all three points in a dramatic finish. The winner capped a night of intense tenacity and strategic discipline, underscoring Girona’s resilience in front of their fans.
Data sheet: 2 – Girona: Juan Carlos; Arnau (Yan Couto, min. 74), Santi Bueno, Bernardo (Manu Vallejo, min. 59), Juanpe, Gutiérrez; Romeu, Alex Garcia; Reinier (Toni Villa, min. 74), Riquelme (Samu Sáiz, min. 59); Castellanos (Javi Hernández, min. 92). 1 – Real Valladolid: Asenjo; Luis Pérez (Fresneda, min. 28), Joaquín, Javi Sánchez, Lucas Olaza; Roque Mesa, Monchu, Kike (Aguado, min. 76); Gonzalo Plata (Kenedy, min. 76), Sergi Guardiola (Weissman, min. 6) and Anuar (Óscar Plano, min. 46). Goals: 1-0 Reinier in the 21st minute. 1-1 Monchu in the 38th minute. 2-1 Oriol Romeu in the 88th minute. Judge: Soto Grado from the La Rioja region. Cautions: Anuar (min. 9) and Roque Mesa (min. 79). Events: The fifth-day LaLiga Santander match drew 10,053 fans to Montilivi Municipal Stadium.
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