Michel’s team wasted the chance to take the lead, ahead of next week’s match against Ancelotti’s men. Blind and Herrera – as well as the coach – will miss the match
– madrid
Girona slows down and loses pieces. The first match of his terrible triptych, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, ended 0-0 with the Catalans sleeping -1 behind Madrid on the pitch tomorrow in the derby with Atletico. And for next Saturday’s visit to the Bernabeu, Girona lost coach Michel, sent off for protesting excessively vehemently, and the fundamentals Blind and Yangel Herrera, who were warned and booked. And let’s see what happens with Dovbyk.
the choices
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Imanol Alguacil was thinking about Tuesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final in Mallorca and already without Traoré and Kubo, in the African and Asian Cup, he gave up Le Normand, Mikel Merino and Barrenetxea giving space to Javi Galan and Becker, purchased in January. A significant issue for Michel: in the last training session Dovbyk hurt his knee: great alarm, but perhaps he’s back. The Ukrainian, fundamental and in great form, however went to the stands and to replace him Michel did not use Stuani but Portu, a former Real Sociedad player who is not a centre-forward.
the controversy
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After two good saves from Cascante on a free kick from Tsygankov and a conclusion from Aleix Garcia, the controversy arose: Girona scored with a diving header from Yangel Herrera served by a lob from the irrepressible Savinho. The goal was disallowed due to an offside by the Brazilian himself which occurred about 40 seconds before the goal, in an action with three crosses from Girona. Michel enraged, with the referees deeming that the ball had never come into Real Sociedad’s possession, and they simply swept it away. Then the goal was disallowed, again due to offside by Oyarzabal. In the second half Real Sociedad grew, with lots of intensity but few opportunities until a great save by Gazzaniga on Brais Mendez in the 72nd minute. Michel had just brought on Stuani and Pablo Torre, Real Sociedad loudly but without reason asked for a penalty for Stuani’s hold on Pacheco, and Remiro’s complex save on Yangel Herrera. And in the 95th minute Valery Fernandez fired out a precious ball offered by Yan Couto. For the “Gironeister” a moment of difficulty in the most complicated moment of the season.
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