2023-12-21 22:03:27
GIRONA No stage or opponent intimidates Girona, who were able to silence Benito Villamarín in a memorable football match that ended in a cruel way. Míchel’s team stood in front of Betis, looked him in the eyes and told him, in a pitiful way, that few can play better than him. It is the absolute confirmation that this style is causing a furor in Montilivi, disgusted by Pezzella’s final stab, when the Girona were about to add their eighth consecutive victory at home. That this tie hurts him, he says very good things. The tie does not tarnish his image. In fact, the image reinforces it. And let it hurt, too. You can’t always win, that’s all.
He is also not affected by the supposed pressure he should have due to the fact that he is on top of everything in the League. This does not distract the thoughts of a team that has things very clear. Even when there are setbacks, he finds solutions. Pablo Torre, starter, did not hint at his lack of minutes this season. And Juanpe, who had to come on after half an hour, due to David López’s muscle injury, finally standing alone as the footballer in the history of the club with the most matches in professional categories (234), neither did he tune out Everything was going well, until the end.
Pellegrini’s Betis is a piece of equipment that demanded the attention of the people of Girona. Indeed, it wouldn’t have been out of the question for him to go ahead, as Gazzaniga saved a powerful shot from Willian José and Ayoze stunned the defense with a one-on-one effort that ended up over the crossbar. The rest, except for some anxiety caused by the final rush, was white-and-red. When everything was under control, Pezzella’s goal left everyone frozen. The Argentine finished a controversial corner, because it was not a corner: in the previous action, the referee interprets that it is Aleix Garcia who touches the ball, but it is a local footballer.
The trace of Savinho
Míchel didn’t stray a hair from the usual script. And his delighted footballers were as daring and oblivious as usual. He had warned Yan Couto after thirty seconds, in the first serious approach. But the spark that ignited what was to be a beautiful finish was produced by a partnership inside the opposition area, which ended with Ruibal sweeping Savinho, who had already danced it and faced Rui Silva with a murderous look The one he hadn’t had a while before, by the way, with a flawed opportunity that ended up in the hands of the goalkeeper.
But when a Girona footballer fails, he gets up and tries again. So it was with Savinho, the prelude to Artem Dovbyk’s umpteenth cold-blooded demonstration from eleven meters. The Ukrainian, who does not seem to be affected by anything, scored his eleventh goal of the season.
In the second half, when Betis wanted to, but could not, take a step forward, Girona found several ways to remedy it, such as counter-attacks. With the fast wings, between Yan Couto and Savinho they constantly fueled the danger that 0-2 was closer than 1-1. Failed completion, full of bad decisions. Pezzella’s final shot, on a bungled and illegal play, was an unexpected dagger to the heart. Girona could lose the lead tonight if Madrid beat Alabès.
Betis: Rui Silva, Bellerín (Ruibal, 15′), Pezzella, Chadi Riad, Miranda, Guardado (Carvalho, 46′), Marc Roca (Altimira, 66′), Assane, Ayoze, Rodri (Abde, 66′) and Willian José (Borja Iglesias, 66′). Coach: Manuel Pellegrini. Girona: Gazzaniga, Eric Garcia, David López (Juanpe, 34′), Blind, Miguel, Aleix Garcia, Iván Martín, Yan Couto (Valery, 78′), Pablo Torre (Portu, 64′), Savinho (Solís, 78′ ) and Dovbyk (Stuani, 64′). Coach: Míchel Sánchez. Goals: 0-1 Dovbyk, penalty (39′) and 1-1 Pezzella (88′). Referees: De Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque Committee). Yellow cards: Dovbyk (43′), Guardado (45+3′), Marc Roca (45+6′) and Aleix Garcia (82′). Red cards: None. Stadium: Benito Villamarín, 51,394 spectators.
#dagger #heart #team #win