Girona closed their first Champions League experience with a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal at Montilivi. Although Míchel's team started with a promising performance and took the lead, the English side showed their quality and came back in a matter of minutes. The controversy came in the final stretch when the VAR disallowed Cristhian Stuani's equalizer for a millimetric offside, leaving the home side without the dream farewell.
Despite the result, the Catalan team leaves with the satisfaction of having competed against some of the best clubs in Europe.
Courageous Girona excites its fans
From the start, Girona showed ambition and courage. Míchel's team, aware that they had no chance of advancing in the Champions League, wanted to say goodbye with a symbolic victory. The first few minutes were balanced, with the home side looking for the lead and Arsenal controlling possession.
The fans at Montilivi pushed their team on, and the reward came in the 28th minute. Juanpe slipped in a precise pass for Arnaut Danjuma, who calmly slotted home to make it 1-0 and unleash the euphoria in the stands.
Arsenal felt the blow and at times were overwhelmed by Girona's pressure. Viktor Tsygankov had a clear chance to extend the lead, but his shot did not find the target. However, Arteta's team reacted with forcefulness and, in just four minutes, turned the score around with relentless effectiveness.
A Thumping Comeback Before Halftime
Arsenal's equalizer came in the 38th minute through Jorginho, who converted a penalty resulting from an unnecessary foul by Arnau on Thomas inside the area. The absence of Gazzaniga, the goalkeeper who specializes in saving penalties, was noticeable, and the English team did not miss the opportunity.
Just four minutes later, in the 42nd minute, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri made his mark on the match with a stunning goal. With a great finish just inside the post, he made it 1-2 and silenced the home crowd. Before the break, Arsenal could have extended the lead with a shot from Trossard that crashed against the crossbar, leaving Girona on the verge of a knockout.
VAR Denies Girona a Draw
After halftime, Girona tried to react, but Arsenal managed the advantage well and continued to generate danger. Nwaneri was one of the stars of the match, playing an active role in the Londoners' attacking play. Timber had a clear opportunity to put the game to bed, but his shot went wide.
As the minutes passed, Míchel's team managed to settle down and began to press in search of an equalizer. The changes gave freshness to Girona, who found their big chance in the 77th minute. Stuani managed to push the ball into the back of the net after a cross from Portu, but the joy was short-lived. The VAR intervened and disallowed the goal for a millimeter offside by Portu in the previous play.
The decision left a bitter taste in the team and the fans, who saw the last great opportunity to close the Champions League with a positive result slip away.
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Pau Lopez Stops A Penalty Shot In The Add-On
In stoppage time, Arsenal had the chance to seal the game with a penalty, but Pau Lopez was the hero as he saved Raheem Sterling's shot. Despite the great save, Girona had no time to react and ended up adding their seventh defeat in the tournament.
With only three points out of a possible 24, Girona leaves the Champions League with a negative balance in terms of results, but with the satisfaction of having competed against European giants such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Milan and PSG. The experience will serve as a learning experience for the future, and although the outcome was not as expected, the team and its fans can be proud of the road they have traveled.
