Osasuna did not miss the opportunity to return to Europe 16 years later of the last departure for the continent. The desire of the Navarrese club, divided between the color of a packed stands, sold out, and the strength of the players, dismasted Girona, who aspired to that place with a small mouth, and with less ambition due to its inferior possibilities.
Osasuna got the victory they needed on track shortly after the European ticket began to be jeopardized when Athletic took the lead at the Bernabéu. The other goal from Girona, Salvation easily settled, was to overcome Pablo Machín’s 51 points for Girona (2017-18) and Michel’s team could not consummate it by chaining the last five games with two draws and three defeats. The League ended the return to the First Division with 49 points and in tenth position.
Abde tortured Arnau in the first half and then it was Miguel who suffered torture.
Abde tortured Arnau during the first half, but in the second it was Miguel who lived an ordeal, since the two goals came from his band. They were both very similar, with the same ending: Budimir’s shot from point blank range before which nothing could do Gazzaniga.
The burden of the first half in the Girona area moved to Osasuna in the last minute of added time, generous, due to two or three games in a rough start. Tsygankov finished off with the right and forced Aitor to react by pulling out a big hand. In the ensuing corner, Bernardo headed across, too cross.
Two draws and three defeats thwart the ambition of surpassing Girona de Machín’s 51 points.
two equal goals
This reaction invited us to augur another Girona that, at least, matched the local desire to enter Europe, but Michel’s team found that Osasuna hit the chances that they had wasted in the first half through Abde and Budimir. The Croatian striker scored two goals in two crosses from the right, first by Barja and then by Moncayola that left him with all the advantage in the world.
The changes introduced by Michel immediately revitalized Girona, which had taken a step forward, as the reds’ goals came from counterattacks. Aleix contributed play in midfield and Stuani strengthened his presence in the area, although shortly after Taty Castellanos was substituted and did not accept it willingly, exchanging a few words with Michel.
Data sheet
Osasuna: Aitor Fernandez; Rubén Peña, Aridane, D. García, Manu; Torró, Moncayola, Aimar; Kike Barja, Budimir, Abde. Technician: Jaboga Arrasate. Changes: J. Cruz for D. García (m. 6); Chimy Ávila for Budimir (d. 70), R. García for Barja (d. 70); Moi Gómez by Abde (d. 85); Ibáñez by Moncayola (d. 85).
Girona: Gazzaniga; Arnau, Bernardo, David Lopez, Miguel; Romeu; Tsygankov, Iván Martín, Yangel, Riquelme; Castellanos. Technician: Michel Sanchez. Changes: Stuani for Riquelme (m. 59); Aleix for Yangel (d. 59); Yan Couto for Bernardo (d. 65); Reinier by Castellanos (d. 65); Hernández for Miguel (d. 85).
Goals: 1-0 (m. 52), Budimir, 2-0 (m. 55), Budimir; 2-1 (m. 75), Reinier.
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Referee: Ortiz Arias (from Madrid).
cards: Yangel, Bernardo, Moncayola, Yan Couto, Stuani, Gazzaniga.