Míchel declared it the “best game of the season” and it is hardly surprising that he came to that conclusion. Girona thrashed fellow promoted side Almería 6-2 on Friday night to move seven points clear of the relegation zone at the start of Matchday 22.
It was a record-equalling game in which the Catalan side’s precocious potential turned into potent productivity. For only the second time, Girona scored six goals in LaLiga. They were 4-0 up by half time, the first time they had scored four in the first half of a top flight encounter.
By the 80th minute, they had six and equalled their record set back in 2018. On that occasion they were halfway through their debut season in LaLiga and smashed Las Palmas 6-0. Almería were not much better but did head back to Andalucía with a couple of consolation goals along with their tails between their legs.
The depth of quality and talent available to the Catalans was evident in abundance. There were six different scorers for the Blanquivermells, and three players registered both a goal and an assist.
Taty Castellanos provided the starter for the evening, beating the attempted offside trap to score a free header from Arnau Martínez’s cross. The Argentine made it five goals for the season, four of which have been at Montilivi. He had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards, but there was an offside.
The second goal did arrive in a similar move to the opener, but this time Rodrigo Riquelme headed back across goal to find Viktor Tsygankov at the back post to score his first goal for the club in his first start. He is the first Ukrainian to score in LaLiga since Artem Kravets for Granada in 2016/17.
Then immediately from kick off, Girona pressed, robbed the ball back and broke into the box, Riquelme stabbing the ball home for his goal. Atlético Madrid fans are enjoying watching his performances this season. Inevitably, Aleix García had to feature in the creativity; the 25-year-old has created more chances than anyone else in LaLiga this season, and put this one on a plate for Riquelme.
The fourth was perhaps the best of the night. Castellanos surged forward, cut infield and slipped the ball in for Tsygankov, who in turn did his best Guti impression to backheel the ball for the onrushing Javi Hernández.
Goals five and six arrived towards the end, just after Míchel shuffled his pack. Iván Martín and Cristhian Stuani entered the scene together in the 76th minute. By the 80th they had both scored, Stuani’s created by Martín. It is the dream of every coach that a pair of substitutions works to such devastating effect so quickly and it put the icing on the cake.
This glut of goals means that only Real Madrid (44) and Barcelona (43) have scored more than Girona this season (33). They have also scored more home goals than anyone else in the league, albeit having played more matches in front of their own fans. Montilivi is the place to go to see goals. There have been 40 in the 12 games there this season, an average of 3.33 per game. The two eight-goal thrillers of the season have both occurred there: last night and Girona’s 3-5 defeat to Real Sociedad in October.
Scoring goals is one of the hardest things in football, especially for teams towards the bottom end of the table, but on the evidence of Friday, Girona should only get better from here.
As for Almería, this was a devastating blow to their confidence. They have lost their last three, have only won once since the World Cup, and have conceded 40 goals (only Elche have allowed more). They are the most home-reliant side in the division, taking 86% of their points at the Power Horse Stadium, but their away form must be a concern, especially as they are now just two points above the drop zone before those below them play.
Rubi himself has a troubling record on the road. His last victory away from home in LaLiga was 1176 days ago, currently enduring a streak of 19 without a win on the road, including the end of his stint at Betis. Over the course of his career in LaLiga, his teams have won just seven of 70 matches as visitors (10%).
In his post-match comments, the coach took responsibility and even hinted that this is affecting the group psychologically. “[The] fault is mine. I have been talking all week about winning an away game and I think it created anxiety”.
For all his merits and credit in the bank at the club, this persistent Achilles heel could be his ultimate undoing once again.