Jhon Solis struck in the 91st minute to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Girona over Deportivo Alaves on Saturday, despite a lackluster performance from the visitors.
Match Overview
Girona dominated possession in the first half but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Arnaut Danjuma came closest to breaking the deadlock in stoppage time before halftime, but his effort only found the side netting.
Alaves, still winless under Eduardo Coudet, improved as the match progressed and looked the more likely to score. The hosts had a strong penalty claim waved away when Arnau Martinez appeared to push Tomas Conechny in the box, but VAR did not intervene.
As the game edged toward a goalless draw, a costly mistake from Moussa Diarra gifted Girona their opportunity. Solis capitalized on the error in the first minute of stoppage time, scoring with Girona’s only shot on target to seal the victory.
Impact on the Table
- Girona climbed to seventh place in LaLiga, leapfrogging Real Sociedad, who are yet to play their weekend fixture.
- Alaves remain in 16th place, just two points above the relegation zone, extending their winless streak under Coudet.
Data Debrief: Efficiency Wins the Day
- Girona managed just three shots in total, with Solis’ winner being their only effort on target, generating an xG of 0.56.
- Alaves were far more active offensively, taking 11 shots worth 1.68 xG, but they were denied by an excellent display from Paulo Gazzaniga.
- Girona recorded consecutive LaLiga wins with clean sheets for the first time since August-September.
- Michel extended his unbeaten record against Alaves in LaLiga to five matches (W4 D1).
Key Takeaways
- Girona’s Resilience: Despite being outplayed for much of the match, Girona showed resilience and capitalized on a late mistake to secure all three points.
- Alaves’ Frustration: Alaves will rue their missed chances and the denied penalty claim, as they remain perilously close to the relegation zone.
- Solis the Hero: Jhon Solis’ late strike highlighted Girona’s efficiency and provided a crucial boost in their push for European qualification.
Girona now looks to build on their momentum, while Alaves face mounting pressure to find their first win under Coudet.
