Madrid were making their first appearance in the deeply divided region since a violence marred October 1 referendum plunged Spain into political crisis. As a reported one million people joined a rally in Barcelona in favour of Spanish unity yesterday, just over 100 kilometres away in the pro-independence heartland of Girona, the visitors were expected to receive a hostile reception. However, it was events on the field that proved far more troublesome for Zinedine Zidane’s men as they lost more ground on rivals Barca in the Liga title race.
“We know we can turn this around. We will have better days and our rivals will lose points over the course of the season,” insisted Zidane. “There is nothing more we can do, and we know that sooner or later things will turn. There is a long way to go and I am not worried.”
Chants in favour of independence and ‘freedom’ reverberated around the 13,500 capacity Montlivi in the 17th minute as is common at Girona and Barcelona home matches to mark the fall of Catalonia in the Spanish War of Succession in 1714. However, with plenty of Madrid fans present, there were also plenty of Spanish flags on show. In their first ever match against the European champions, Girona looked keen to make a mark from the outset and were desperately unlucky not to go in front when Pablo Maffeo’s cross came back off the inside of the post 12 minutes in. Seconds later, though, the ball was in the Girona net as Madrid broke immediately upfield and Isco tapped home the rebound after Bono parried Cristiano Ronaldo’s initial effort. Girona continued to dominate the game and hit the woodwork again before half-time when Portu’s flicked header looped over Kiko Casilla and back off the inside of the post. “We played very well and hit the post twice in the first-half,” said match winner Portu. “We knew that if we continued to press them hard as a team then you get your rewards in football.”
Real suffered an injury blow days before they travel to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday as Raphael Varane was replaced by Nacho at half-time due to a muscular problem. And the French international’s presence at the heart of the Madrid defence was badly missed as Stuani jinked past Nacho to fire Girona deservedly level nine minutes into the second-half. Just four minutes later, Girona were in dreamland as Maffeo’s driven cross was flicked home by Portu and the goal was allowed to stand despite the striker appearing to be in an offside position. “We can’t make excuses,” Madrid midfielder Casemiro said. “We have to keep our heads because it is a difficult moment. We still have a chance but we need to play better and work harder. Madrid are always obliged to win.”
Stuani had a huge chance to make the game safe when chipped the ball beyond Casilla and wide of the far post. Yet, rather than mount a late comeback as they did so often on route to a first La Liga and Champions League double for 59 years last season, Madrid looked short of energy and ideas in the final half hour as Girona held out for a famous victory.
On Saturday night, Barcelona recorded their best ever start to a La Liga season as coach Ernesto Valverde enjoyed a successful return to Athletic Bilbao thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Paulinho in a 2-0 win.
Valverde has now overseen 12 wins and a draw from his first 13 La Liga and Champions League matches as Barca reestablished their four-point lead at the top of the table over Valencia, who beat Alaves 2-1 earlier on Saturday.
Valverde left Bilbao in the summer and his impact has been felt just as much in Bilbao as it has in Barcelona — Athletic have now one just one of their last 12 matches in all competitions. The hosts started the brighter and only a stunning save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen prevented Aritz Aduriz from slotting Athletic in front on 19 minutes. Barca, and Messi in particular, grew into the game as the half wore on and the Argentine should have opened the scoring when he hit the woodwork for already the 10th time this season with the goal at his mercy from Luis Suarez’s pass. Messi was at the heart of another flowing team move to break the deadlock eight minutes before half-time. He exchanged one-twos with Paulinho and Jordi Alba before sweeping home the left-back’s low cross.
Paulinho should have extended the visitors’ advantage when he smacked the crossbar moments later, but an under-par Barca had to withstand plenty of Athletic pressure after the break.
Raul Garcia’s header also hit the woodwork, while Ter Stegen produced another stunning stop from Aduriz five minutes from time. But Barca held out to record a ninth clean sheet in their last 13 games, and added a second deep into stoppage time when Paulinho tapped home the rebound after Kepa Arrizabalaga had parried Suarez’s first effort.
Spanish La Liga results
Getafe 2 (Angel Rodriguez 78, Jorge Molina 85-pen) Real Sociedad 1 (Oyarzabal 5); Girona 2 (Stuani 54, Portu 58) Real Madrid 1 (Isco 12)
Played Saturday: Alaves 1 (Alexis 49) Valencia 2 (Zaza 34, Rodrigo 66-pen); Atletico Madrid 1 (Correa 61) Villarreal 1 (Bacca 81); Athletic Bilbao 0 Barcelona 2 (Messi 37, Paulinho 90+2); Sevilla 2 (Ben Yedder 20, Sarabia 54) Leganes 1 (Szymanowski 48-pen)
Playing today: Espanyol v Real Betis, Las Palmas v Deportivo la Coruna (2000 GMT)