Danjuma shakes up Slovan Bratislava and gives Girona its first victory in Europe | Soccer | Sports

Girona did not have permission to take a break or a break, required as it was in the table to beat so as not to derail right off the bat in the Champions League, a competition that it is savoring for the first time in its history and that made it bitter in the first two matches. , fallen against PSG and Feyenoord between misfortunes, like giving away a goal or getting involved two of their own. Version that was not repeated against Slovan Bratislava, which counts the duels as defeats, since Danjuma put on the overalls, the one with the breaks and crosses, the differential winger. Enough to unravel the rival and to sign Girona’s first victory in Europe, a sip of glory against a pressing calendar, with Sturm Graz, Liverpool, Milan and Arsenal just around the corner.

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Gazzaniga, Alejandro Francés, Juanpe, Ladislav Krejci, Miguel Gutierrez, Arnau Martinez, Iván Martín (Bojan Miovski, min. 23), Yangel Herrera, Stuani, van de Beek (David López, min. 83) and Arnaut Danjuma

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Dominik Takac, Kashia, Wimmer, Kenan Bajric, César Blackman, Sharani Zuberu, Daniel Ignatenko (Nino Marcelli, min. 78), Savvidis (Artur Gajdos, min. 84), Tigran Barseghyan, Marko Tolic (Július Szöke, min. 84) and Dávid Strelec (Idjessi Metsoko, min. 84)

Goals 1-0 min. 41: Miguel Gutierrez. 2-0 min. 72: Juanpe.

Referee Horatiu Fesnic

yellow cards Marko Tolic (min. 15), Alejandro Francés (min. 45), Daniel Ignatenko (min. 69) and Tigran Barseghyan (min. 71)

Superlatively diminished by injuries, to the point that they only had the goalkeeper Gazzaniga and 12 field players from the first team – a matter that became more complicated with the early injury of Iván Martín and the later one of Van de Beek -, Girona expressed themselves, however, with greatness , a team of possession and touch, of indoor soccer, no matter how difficult it is to put the link to the collective game. Tara, which this time Danjuma solved with the ball tied to his boot, with some runs down the side that were worth the victory.

It soon became clear that the match was one-way, that the ball was not discussed, that all initiative came from Girona because the rival was taking refuge in their field (almost in their area) waiting for better times, those that referred to sporadic counterattacks with Tolic —great at driving and breaking—as a stiletto. But that protagonism, even though they did not disdain it, was somewhat indigestible at the beginning for Girona, who did not find the necessary depth or the opportune center, nor the diligence of the pass, much less the accurate shot. Until Danjuma revolted.

Comfortable with the ball between their feet in the construction, Girona got the rash when crossing the divide, where Míchel proposed a duel with double sprinklers on the side, the wingers on natural foot and the midfielders on changed foot. And none worked better than Danjuma on the left, the only one to take advantage of one-on-one situations, capable of sprinting to get away from his shadow, of taking crosses—Stuani narrowly missed one—and even of putting the finishing touch on it. , like that shot with a thread that missed the goal by centimeters. His tenacity, in any case, led him to try another slalom that led to the goal before the intermission, as he placed a cross to the penalty spot, where Miguel appeared from the second line to put his foot and the shot, also the goal.

The clash did not change course after the break, with Slovan timid and with no other intention than the counterattack, with Girona dedicated to the attack with Danjuma as the main actor. Ora one of his shots is repelled by the goalkeeper; Then another kick that dismantles a rival leg. Miovski also tried with a header that uncorked Takac’s stretch between flashes. It was tackling football, a sustained monologue that earned its reward with Juanpe, when he subtly executed a foul over the barrier and into the net. There could have been more, but Stuani didn’t know how to take advantage of a penalty.

It is already known that it will not be easy to forget Savinho (now at City), but Danjuma showed that with patience, space and trust he is worth a fortune. Something that Míchel celebrates and Girona; something that Slovan Bratislava is already clear about, incapable of putting a stop to it, of containing it, of avoiding it.