Girona go top despite stumble at winless Almeria

Issued on: 14/01/2024 - 18:35

2 min

The winless hosts outplayed the surprise contenders, now a point clear of Real Madrid, but could not find a way through to secure their first victory of the season.

Girona playmaker Aleix Garcia was sent off with 10 minutes to go for pulling down Gonzalo Melero as he ran through on goal.

Madrid face Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia later Sunday, with their match against Getafe postponed until February 1.

"The best news from the game is the point, Almeria got the better of us ... we got a point which is good and makes us leaders," said Girona coach Michel Sanchez.

Almeria coach Gaizka Garitano said his team were far stronger defensively now than when he took over in October, with his first match at the helm a crushing 5-2 defeat at Girona.

It proved the case, with the formerly free-scoring Catalans shackled as Almeria picked up a third goalless draw in their last six league games.

Almeria had the better of the few chances there were, with Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga doing well to deny Sergio Arribas before half-time.

The former Real Madrid winger had another chance early in the second period but fired narrowly off target, while Gazzaniga denied Leo Baptistao and Adri Embarba.

Arribas, named player of the match, was electric but wasteful in front of goal.

Girona coach Michel withdrew their top goalscorer Artem Dovbyk, who barely had a sniff, sending on Uruguayan veteran Cristhian Stuani in his place.

To make a tough afternoon worse for Girona, Garcia was sent off with 10 minutes to go for grabbing Melero's shirt to hold him back as he ran in on goal.

The midfielder, key in Michel's plans, had not missed a single minute of the season until now.

"We knew it would not be easy at the start," Gazzaniga told Movistar.

"Playing the last minutes with one less player, I think it was a positive point."

Almeria brought on striker Luis Suarez, missing injured since October, as they pushed Girona back in search of a winner.

They could not find it and sit 10 points from safety, next facing giants Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

No team has failed to win a game in a La Liga season and this was another performance to give Almeria hope they will avoid that fate.

"We were superior to a Girona that are fighting for the title," Arribas told Movistar.

"We have to keep working ... we'll keep on believing until the end, until it's not mathematically possible (to survive)."

Valencia continued their solid campaign with a 4-1 win at Cadiz that took Los Che eighth.

Hugo Duro opened the scoring for the visitors before Ruben Alcaraz pegged them back from the penalty spot for Cadiz.

Diego Lopez netted after the break to put Valencia ahead and Javi Guerra and Jesus Vazquez completed the rout in stoppage time.

Cadiz, 18th, remain a point from safety and some supporters chanted for coach Sergio Gonzalez to leave his post, with the Andalusians now without a win in 16 league games.

© 2024 AFP