Hoping to get back on track after a 2-0 defeat against fellow relegation rivals Cádiz, Girona were ahead with less than eight minutes on the clock. Looking to avenge their 3-2 H2H loss suffered earlier in the season, Valentín Castellanos got his side off to the best possible start by heading Arnau Martínez’s cross past Fernando Martínez from close range. With unparalleled dominance going forward, Míchel’s side thought they had doubled their lead in the 25th minute with a carbon copy of the game’s opening goal. However, VAR came to Almería’s rescue, disallowing Castellanos’ effort due to the Blanquivermells’ striker straying marginally offside in the build-up.
But the hosts were not to be denied further goals before referee Valentín Pizarro’s HT whistle, as Rodrigo Riquelme’s header back across goal set up Viktor Tsygankov to get off the mark for Girona. Almería manager Rubi could then only watch on helplessly as Míchel’s side mercilessly hit the back of the net twice more before the interval. Provider turned goalscorer in the 36th minute, as on-loan Atlético Madrid winger Riquelme survived another VAR involvement, after his well-taken low shot into the right-hand corner of the net. Javi Hernández then added a fourth seven minutes later, tapping Tsygankov’s exquisite back-heel past a now beleaguered-looking Martínez.
Needing a spectacular performance in the second half to avoid remaining with only one victory in their previous eight La Liga matches, Rubi rolled the dice to the maximum extent, introducing four alterations at HT. And the quadruple switch initially worked, with one of Rubi’s changes giving Almeria hope of an unlikely comeback in the 67th minute. With no patience for small measures, Largie Ramazani volleyed past Paulo Gazzaniga, but Iván Martín then brilliantly added a fifth for Girona with his first touch of the game, before Cristhian Stuani clinically fired into the roof of the net for number six less than two minutes later.
That double blast ended any aspirations of a comeback for the visitors, but they weren’t finished yet, as El Bilal Touré sublimely rounded the onrushing Gazzaniga to register a late consolation goal. The victory moves Girona seven points clear of the heavily-congested relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s action elsewhere, while Almería remain in a battle to avoid an immediate return to LaLiga 2, and remain winless on the road in La Liga this campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Rodrigo Riquelme (Girona)
