Elche had recently enjoyed their travels to Girona’s home ground, losing just once on their last seven visits and they were leaning on that form in their bid to start an unfathomable route away from relegation. Despite their lowly position, Elche started well in the game with an excellent strike from Gerard Gumbau which was saved well by Girona goalkeeper, Fulham loanee, Paulo Gazzaniga. Girona were dealt a blow when influential midfielder Borja García limped off and was substituted. The visitors kept up their pressure on the home side as Gumbau again tested Gazzaniga, when his chip was tipped over the bar by the Argentinian stopper.
Gradually the home side grew more into the game as the half progressed, with some dangerous play down the flanks, without creating any real chances. Despite this, Elche were the side going close to grabbing the opening goal, but again Gumbau was thwarted by Gazzaniga, who saved well low down to his right-hand post. Then against the run of play, Los Blanquivermells opened the scoring as Taty Castellanos headed home from Toni Villa’s cross to give Girona the lead before HT.
Elche wanted to right the wrong of the first half and went close with a real opportunity in the second period as Pere Milla looped a header inches wide of the post. Álex Collado then tested Gazzaniga with a swerving shot well saved by the goalkeeper as Los Franjiverdes sensed an equaliser. Girona were quite happy to sit back knowing they had the lead and pick the visitors off on the counter-attack. Elche managed to scramble one opportunity away as Iván Martín saw his shot blocked, however from the resulting corner, Oriol Romeu’s left-footed drive doubled Girona’s lead and sealed the win for the home side.
The visitors were reduced to ten men in stoppage time when Ezequiel Ponce was given a straight red for a late challenge, and the defeat leaves them almost certain for relegation with nine games to play while Girona look to finish strongly for the rest of LL, as Míchel’s men have thwarted any dropzone fears for this campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Paulo Gazzaniga (Girona FC)
