Girona 1-3 Rayo Vallecano
After a second of silence for Cristhian Stuani’s departed father, with the Uruguayan absent because of this, the La Liga season roared into life on Friday night time at Montilivi, in a match heavy with the summer season warmth. Both that or the event obtained to Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
The sport started with Girona having fun with some good spells of possession, however Gazzaniga was too snug one the ball, and scuffed a move out vast. The free ball within the field was hunted down by Jorge de Frutos, and his sliding effort completed with a ball and a red-faced Argentine at the back of the web. It was de Frutos once more that wreaked havoc within the Girona defence moments later, as he latched onto a ball excessive. Shrugging off Ladislav Krejci, de Frutos obtained into the field and unselfishly discovered Alvaro Garcia for a tap-in.
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That was regrettable defending, however at the least de Frutos was made to work for it. Girona supervisor Michel can be even much less forgiving of Gazzaniga’s crimson card although, after a failed take-on in opposition to de Frutos led to him bringing down the Rayo ahead and giving freely a penalty. Isi Palazon stepped up, nevertheless it was de Frutos’ aggression and starvation that was paying dividends.
Solely an enormous save from substitute ‘keeper Vladyslav Krapyvstov in a one-on-one with Pathe Ciss, and a foul from de Frutos on the Ukrainian stored it at 4 – the one saving grace for a crew whistled off at half-time.
Girona discover satisfaction in second interval
There was very a lot an air of ‘job finished’ in Rayo’s second half, with debutant Luiz Felipe taken off as a result of a yellow card. They dominated the ball, as Girona battled for satisfaction and to alleviate themselves of the Montilivi ire. Which was settled considerably by Viktor Tysgankov’s sensible run down the proper, burning Rayo’s central defender to get into the field, and pulling it again behind the protecting defence for Joel Roca to rifle house.
Roca battled laborious and was courageous on the ball, as was the case for Thomas Lemar when he got here on for his debut. Later Vitor Reis and Hugo Rincon would do the identical. Regardless of a ten-minute interval the place Girona appeared like making a recreation of it, Rayo noticed out the sport on the beak, and one way or the other failing so as to add to their whole.
Michel will really feel that he’s nearer to the facet that completed final season than began it, however the temptation can be to fully ignore the primary half after such obtrusive errors. In the meantime Rayo go into subsequent week’s Convention League qualifier with Neman Grodno excessive on confidence. Their efficiency off the ball would be the most pleasing facet for Inigo Perez, though Jorge de Frutos’ continued success as a striker can be extraordinarily promising.