Girona Reclaims Second Place in Rematch Against Rayo

In the final match of the twenty-sixth day of LaLiga EA Sports, Girona celebrated a major victory against Rayo Vallecano at Montilivi. This 3-0 triumph not only signaled the end of their recent losing streak but also catapulted them back to the second position in the league standings. This win was a significant blow for Rayo Vallecano, who are currently suffering from a slump in their performance.

After recent losses to Santiago Bernabéu (4-0) and San Mamés (3-2), Girona’s Catalans managed to turn their fortunes around on home ground. The first half of the match saw few scoring opportunities for either side. The most notable chance came when Venezuelan midfielder Yangel Herrera attempted a header, only to be thwarted by Dimitrievski. This was closely followed by another attempt from Herrera which was blocked by Aridane.

As the game resumed after halftime, the red-and-white team showed signs of rejuvenation, as Yan Couto threatened the opposition with a quick counterattack. However, Artem Dovbyk was unsuccessful in converting this into a goal. Instead, it was Viktor Tsygankov, another forward from Ukraine, who scored the first goal of the match in the 52nd minute. He capitalized on a backward pass from Miguel Gutiérrez, effectively sending the ball into the back of the net.

This goal provided a much-needed respite for Míchel’s team, who had been under considerable pressure. They subsequently extended their lead with a shot into Dovbyk’s clouds. The situation further improved for the ‘gironins’ when Pep Chavarría was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the 75th minute. The victory was finally sealed in stoppage time with Savinho scoring two goals (min.91 and 95).

With this win, Girona now stands at 59 points, reclaiming the second position in the league table. They are now trailing six points behind the leader Real Madrid and are two points ahead of FC Barcelona, who are third. Athletic Club, the first team aspiring to be in the ‘Champions’ league, is trailing ten points behind.

On the other hand, Rayo Vallecano is facing a challenging situation, having only accumulated three points from the possible twenty-one in their recent matches. Managed by Iñigo López, the team is currently positioned fourteenth in the league, with 25 points, which is just seven points above the relegation zone.