Girona secured their first win of the season this Sunday with a convincing 5-2 victory over Las Palmas at Montilivi, as reported by El Periódico. The result dispels early doubts after a difficult start and strips the Canary Islands side of the provisional league leadership.
Manager Quique Álvarez's major team news was the inclusion of Ukrainian forward Vladyslav Vanat, who missed the first two matches due to discomfort. He was the team's top scorer last season with ten goals. Girona, who had taken just one point from a possible six before the match, dominated from the start and created the clearest chances through Abel Ruiz and Vanat.
How did the match unfold?
Jastin García opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a powerful strike from outside the box after receiving the ball with his back to goal. Las Palmas, chasing a third consecutive win, failed to create real danger in the first half. Girona could have extended their lead before the break with chances for Izan González and Vanat, but the score remained 1-0.
The visitors reacted at the start of the second half. Iván Jaime, who came on at half-time, capitalized on a mistake by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga to equalize. However, the parity was short-lived. In the 55th minute, Fran Beltrán won the ball after a serious error by Las Palmas keeper José Antonio Caro and chipped it over him for 2-1.
Who decided the game?
Just five minutes later, Yáser Asprilla put the game to bed with a shot into the top corner after a great individual run. The Colombian attacking midfielder, the club's most expensive signing ever, completed his brace in the 72nd minute to make it 4-1. Asprilla has strung together three strong performances since returning from his loan to Galatasaray.
The referee had previously disallowed an Abel Ruiz goal for offside. A consolation goal from Taisei Miyashiro for 4-2 and a final strike from Izan González in the closing minutes sealed the 5-2 scoreline. The match also saw Jesé Rodríguez sent off for a foul.
What does this win mean for Girona?
The victory provides relief for Quique Álvarez's project, which is still looking to finalize the squad in the last days of the transfer window. The win comes at a key moment, as the team aims to fight for promotion to La Liga this season. You can track the team's progress on our standings page.
Montilivi celebrated a solid collective performance, with decisive contributions from several players. The team showed notable improvement compared to their first two matches, where they only managed a draw. This win provides breathing room and confidence heading into the early stage of the competition, with a schedule you can review in our fixtures section.
Vanat's continuity, which remains uncertain as the market closes, would be an advantage for the attack. Girona demonstrated offensive depth, a factor that will be critical for maintaining consistency throughout the campaign. To follow the players' development, visit the stats section.
