Stuani rescues Girona and stops a Real Sociedad that lived off set pieces

The match arrived charged with urgency for Girona, deeply involved in the relegation zone and forced to take points at home with two rounds remaining in the season. Real Sociedad, settled in the upper-mid table, landed at Montilivi needing to break a winless streak and to stay within reach of their European goals. In this context, the duel had more tension than flair and was decided by details: a set-piece move for the visitors and a sideways cross that Stuani turned into life-saving oxygen for the home side.

First half

The start belonged to Girona, who came out intent on flooding the box and causing damage from the wings. Joel Roca warned very early with a shot from outside the box and Viktor Tsygankov also forced Álex Remiro into action. The red-and-white team found spaces behind the fullbacks, with Arnau Martínez playing very deep and Azzedine Ounahi appearing between the lines to accelerate the play.

Real, more uncomfortable with possession than usual, managed to survive Girona’s push. Barrenetxea had a clear chance in the 13th minute after a move that even started with Remiro, but his shot ended in Gazzaniga’s hands. Afterwards, the match began to shift to battle zones: fouls, divided duels, and difficulties for attacks to gain momentum.

The visitors struck in the 28th minute. After a corner earned thanks to a move by Kubo, Sergio Gómez delivered a precise cross and Jon Martín attacked the area decisively to score with a header the 0-1. Real punished Girona’s lack of punch in an isolated action, just when the home side had been dominating offensively.

The goal did not demoralize Míchel’s team. In fact, Girona ended the first half piling up chances: Ounahi tested the area from the edge, Alejandro Francés headed after a corner, and Bryan Gil also appeared in finishing positions. Real lost Barrenetxea to injury in the 34th minute, substituted by Pablo Marín, and went into the break ahead but with the feeling of having conceded too close to their goal.

Second half

Míchel quickly made a substitution and brought Cristhian Stuani on for Bryan Gil at halftime. The change altered Girona’s type of threat: less outside dribbling and more presence inside the box. From then on, the Catalan team started insisting with lateral crosses, second balls, and shots from intermediate positions.

Before the equalizer, Girona amassed clear chances. Ounahi reappeared inside the area, Joel Roca had two shooting opportunities, and Alejandro Francés nearly scored with a header following a Tsygankov cross. Real, who refreshed the team with Carlos Soler and Gorka Carrera, failed to stretch their possessions and ended up defending closer to Remiro than they would have liked.

The 1-1 arrived in the 66th minute. Arnau Martínez crossed the ball into the box and Stuani, with the instinct that has saved Girona many times, finished with his right foot from the center of the box. It was a pure striker’s goal: attacking the space at just the right moment, arriving ahead of the defender, and turning an apparently simple play into a highly valuable point.

The final stretch had more tension than clarity. Girona kept pressing with Fran Beltrán, Lemar, and Echeverri from the bench, but lacked precision in the final pass. Real tried to close the inside lanes with Zubeldia and Beñat Turrientes, holding on amid fouls, cards, and some isolated transitions. The score did not change again, and the draw ended up reflecting two realities: Girona was more persistent, but Real got a lot from set pieces and from a great defensive performance by several key players.

Top players Comunio / Sofascore

156

Ounahi
11.770.000€+30.000€    -

J1

MD

25

For Girona, the highest-rated player was Azzedine Ounahi, with 10 Comunio points and 8.2 on Sofascore. His game had continuity, dribbling, and presence in shooting areas. He was the player who gave the biggest sense of imbalance between the lines and one of the strongest fantasy reinforcements.

Cristhian Stuani also finished with 10 Comunio points and 7.4 on Sofascore, decisive thanks to his goal after coming on at halftime. For Comunio, the reading is very clear: even if he doesn’t always start, he remains a differential resource when Girona needs box presence, shooting, and competitive character. Iván Martín also scored notably, with 9 Comunio points and 7.7 on Sofascore, participating in build-up play and helping sustain the home side’s push before being subbed off.

118

Jon Martín
4.610.000€+320.000€    -

J1

DF

02

For Real Sociedad, the fantasy star of the match was Jon Martín, with 14 Comunio points and 7.8 on Sofascore. His opening header in the first half boosted his rating and made him one of the big winners of the round. Also notable was Sergio Gómez, with 8 Comunio points and 7.3 on Sofascore, key for the assist on the 0-1 and his involvement down the left flank.

Álex Remiro delivered another reliable performance, with 7 Comunio points and 7.4 on Sofascore, keeping Real afloat during phases of home domination. Yangel Herrera also had a good rating, with 7 Comunio points and 7.3 on Sofascore, contributing running and work in a demanding night for the Txuri-urdin midfield. There were no players with negative Comunio scores, although Kubo ended with 2 points and 6.3 on Sofascore, a modest rating for a player from whom more offensive impact is expected.

Technical sheet

Final score: Girona FC 1-1 Real Sociedad.

Goals: 0-1, Jon Martín min. 28; 1-1, Cristhian Stuani min. 66.

Stadium: Montilivi Municipal Stadium.

Referee: Miguel Sesma Espinosa. VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande.

Girona lineup: Gazzaniga; Arnau Martínez, Alejandro Francés, Vitor Reis, Álex Moreno; Ounahi, Iván Martín, Witsel; Bryan Gil, Tsygankov, and Joel Roca. Also played Stuani, Fran Beltrán, Lemar, and Claudio Echeverri.

Real Sociedad lineup: Álex Remiro; Jon Aramburu, Jon Martín, Duje Caleta-Car, Sergio Gómez; Yangel Herrera, Jon Gorrotxategi; Take Kubo, Luka Sucic, Ander Barrenetxea; and Mikel Oyarzabal. Also played Pablo Marín, Carlos Soler, Gorka Carrera, Igor Zubeldia, and Beñat Turrientes.