Girona had to win in Austria if they wanted to have any chance, even if it was remote, and the opposite happened. Against the odds, The Catalan team fell against Sturm Graz (1-0) and they need a true miracle to get into the intermediate round that gives access to the round of 16.
Because this was the only match in which, at least on paper, the Spanish team was better than its rival. The three remaining games are terrible: Liverpool, Milan and Arsenal. With that ahead of us, thinking that Girona is going to get enough points to reduce the gap that currently separates them from the ‘play in’ zone is a complete chimera.
And once again we saw the blunt and stuck team that is being shown in this Champions League by Michel’s team. Another game more than He has the ball, he subdues the rival in his area, but he shuts down the light when it’s time to define. Furthermore, in a match, in general, quite poor in terms of football on the part of both teams and in which, due to shots on goal, the result was not completely unfair either.
The figure of Bryan Gil especially emerged, who had a very high first half, far above his teammates, but who was also deactivated by the Austrians as the minutes passed, especially in the second act. In fact, from Cádiz it was a pass that Iván Martín was incomprehensibly unable to push the goal. A ball between the goalkeeper’s legs and a few centimeters from the line. He will still wonder how he did it, because he sent it over the crossbar. A mistake that one ends up regretting.
The second half began again with Bryan Gil incisive in what was going to be his last spark of the game. An entry from the left and a center into the area that Tsygankov He was not able to hook well and sent it into the side of the net. From there, again the jam in three quarters and the inability to harm a team, the Austrian, who began to believe themselves capable of winning the game.
Until the occasion arrived. And they took advantage of it. A low shot at the top of the area by Jatta fell to Gazzaniga, who was unable to stop it. The rebound went straight to Biereth’s bootwho shot the Argentine goalkeeper and scored the first goal for Sturm Graz in the competition. Second official, but the previous one was from Brest in an own goal.
Stuani, Abel Ruiz, Asprilla, Solís… none of the changes that Míchel tried had an effect against a rival team that was already completely withdrawn and that was only looking to clear balls away from the goal and, with luck, hunt down some counterattack. There was no cross into the area in which the Girona forwards had the advantage to finish. The closest thing was one in 91 that Stuani ended up sending over by very little. There would be no time for anything else before the referee whistled the end of the match. Sturm Graz makes its debut in this Champions League and a Spanish team wins for the first time in European competition.
Girona now has to enjoy facing three huge teams from Europe. It is surely not being the passage through the Champions League that they would have expected. But at least no one can take away from them having faced several of the best on the continent, and this season can help them establish themselves in the top zone of Spanish football. It won’t be consolation now, but it’s what you can hope for right now. Unless, due to the whims of football, a miracle happens in the remaining games.