The Girona team played its best minutes of the year but the lack of success and a penalty converted by Salah turned the game into a ‘red’ key.
MADRID, 10 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Girona was defeated this Tuesday against Liverpool in Montilivi (0-1), on the sixth day of the league phase of the Champions League, with a solitary goal from Mohamed Salah from eleven meters that left Míchel’s team virtually eliminated from the competition and keeps the English in the lead, with 18 of 18 points.
A great Girona was not enough to steal the first points of the European season from Liverpool. Míchel’s team competed against the Premier League leader for most of the match, but a lack of success and an error in the form of a penalty by Donny van de Beek gave Liverpool the victory. Thus, the Catalans’ chances of staying alive in the competition become even more complicated while Liverpool consolidates its leadership alone.
The defeat leaves Míchel’s team with three points, three away from 24th place with six left to play, and with most of their rivals with one game less. Furthermore, the difficulty of their rivals in the last two rounds – Milan at San Siro and Arsenal at home – make it almost impossible for them to qualify for the play offs. For its part, the ‘red’ team is 8 points ahead – with one more game – over the ninth placed team, practically certifying its direct pass to the round of 16.
The atmosphere in the stands knew that it was one of the greatest nights in the club’s history: Montilivi received a six-time European champion in the top continental competition. A condition that the English demonstrated from the opening whistle. Thus, it would not take long for the first scoring opportunity for the ‘reds’ to arrive, which, in the first corner of the match, forced Gazzaniga to save after a good header from Joe Gómez.
And just a few minutes later, the Argentine goalkeeper would appear again, this time to stop a left-footed shot by Darwin Núñez from the left side of the area. We had to wait until the 10th minute for Girona to appear in the match with a very clear chance in the boots of Blind, who was unable to finish off a great cross from Miguel Gutiérrez on goal. It would be the first of three clear shots by the Catalans in a matter of minutes.
Míchel’s team was growing in the game and was beginning to subdue Liverpool, who only attacked Gazzaniga’s goal on the counterattack. And that was the tone until half-time, with Girona looking face to face with an entire Liverpool team and putting in their best 45 minutes of the season in the Champions League.
Far from shrinking after the break, the Gironís’ performance after passing through the locker room was a shot by Danjuma, which once again forced Alisson to stop. An action that woke up Liverpool, who began to take control of the match. And in those, a muddled play inside the Girona area ended with van de Beek stomping on Luis Díaz which, through VAR, ended in a penalty in favor of the ‘reds’. Salah did not miss from eleven meters.
The goal fell like a bucket of cold water for a Girona that was left without the ability to react despite the fact that there were still more than 25 minutes left. In fact, the clearest chance in the final stretch would come from Alexander-Arnold with a free-kick that Gazzaniga took with a great stretch.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–RESULT: GIRONA, 0 – LIVERPOOL, 1. (0-0, at half-time).
–ALIGNMENTS:
GIRONA: Gazzaniga; Francés, Juanpe, Krejci, Blind (Jhon Solís, min.76), Miguel Gutiérrez; Van de Beek (Iván Martín, min.76), Romeu; Bryan Gil (Portu, min.71), Asprillia and Danjuma (Stuani, min.71).
LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gómez, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones (Elliott, min.76); Salah, Darwin Núñez (Gakpo, min.71) and Luis Díaz (Endo, min.88).
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min.62, Wrong.
–REFEREE: Benoit Bastien (FRA). He cautioned Romeu (min.55) and Francés (min.87) for Girona. And Luis Díaz (min.53) and Gómez (min.79) in Liverpool.
–STADIUM: Montilivi.