Girona finally ended their winless run in La Liga with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Valencia at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi. It was a spirited performance from the Catalan side, who showed determination and tactical discipline to claim their first three points of the campaign in front of their home fans.
The match began at a high tempo, with Valencia suffering an early setback as Mouctar Diakhaby limped off after just a few minutes, forcing an early defensive reshuffle. Girona took advantage of the disruption, pushing forward with intent and eventually finding the breakthrough through Vladyslav Vanat. The forward displayed fine composure, guiding the ball past the goalkeeper after a well-worked move down the flank, sending Montilivi into celebration.
Valencia, however, grew into the contest as the first half progressed, with Diego López and Arnaut Danjuma testing Girona’s defense. Their persistence paid off early in the second half when López leveled the score, capitalizing on a moment of indecision in the Girona back line. The equalizer brought renewed energy to the visitors, who began to dominate possession in search of a winner.
Despite the pressure, Girona responded with resilience and regained control of the midfield. Their efforts were rewarded when Arnau Martínez restored their lead, reacting quickest to a rebound after a set piece. The goal, initially reviewed by VAR, was confirmed, sparking huge relief among the home supporters.
Tension rose late in the game when Iván Martín received a second yellow card, reducing Girona to ten men for the final minutes. Valencia threw everything forward, but Girona’s back line held firm, with the goalkeeper producing several key saves to preserve the lead. When the final whistle blew, the stadium erupted as Girona sealed their first victory of the season, an emotional moment after a long wait for success at home.
The result lifts Girona off the bottom of the table and injects much-needed confidence into the squad. For Valencia, it was a frustrating evening marked by defensive errors and missed chances that cost them valuable points on the road.
Next Fixture
Girona will travel to face Barcelona, aiming to build on their newfound momentum, while Valencia will face Deportivo Alaves in a bid to bounce back from defeat.
