European dreamers Girona snatch point at Real Sociedad
Both teams headed into this Saturday lunchtime fixture in decent form, with Sociedad in the hunt for a top-four finish for the first time since 2012/13, while Girona - who were promoted to LaLiga only last season - were in the mix to snatch a European berth.
At a drizzly Reale Arena, the hosts managed to get their noses in front early on when Mikel Oyarzabal fired in from the penalty spot after Takefusa Kubo was brought down in the area.
As the first half progressed, Girona, one of the league’s most prolific attacking teams this campaign, struggled to find a way through one of La Liga’s most stringent defences.
Michel’s side soon found themselves two goals behind, as David Silva struck at the back post after latching onto Kubo’s dangerous ball into the box.
The visitors eventually found a breakthrough of their own in the 37th minute through Yan Couto, who found the top corner after cutting in from the right-hand side.
Sensationally, Girona then managed to level the scoring in first-half stoppage time when Cristhian Stuani guided the ball into the net from Rodrigo Riquelme’s free-kick to cap off a breathless opening period.
After a low-key opening to the second half, Silva had an opportunity to restore the home side’s lead before the hour mark, but Paulo Gazzaniga thwarted the Spaniard’s effort from close range.
The Girona goalkeeper was on hand again to deny Kubo’s strike from the edge of the area minutes later, before a string of substitutions were made from each dugout, with the game remaining on a knife-edge heading into the final 15 minutes.
Both outfits continued to plug away as they went in search of a winning goal, with Sociedad seeing Carlos Fernandez hit the bar with a header and a penalty appeal waved away after Robin Le Normand went down inside the area.
There was even more late drama when Girona’s Oriol Romeu received a second yellow card three minutes from time, but La Real were unable to make their numerical advantage count.
Alguacil’s men now sit eight points clear of Villarreal in the race for the Champions League. Meanwhile, Girona could slip out of the Europa Conference League places if other results don’t go their way this weekend.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)
