Girona suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Real Sociedad B on 31 October in matchday 12 of LaLiga Hypermotion. A late goal from Lander Astiazarán in the 86th minute, assisted by Dani Díaz, sealed a second league loss of the season for Míchel's side, who finished the match with ten men after David López's red card. This result halts their recent form of three wins and one loss from their last five matches, a run that had seen them climb to fourth in the Segunda División with 21 points from six wins, three draws, and two losses.
The match at the Estadio Izan was a tight affair with few clear chances. Girona, arriving on a run of three wins and a draw from their last four games, lacked a cutting edge. Their best opportunity fell to Vladyslav Vanat, whose shot from the centre of the box went just wide of the left post in the first half. The visitors controlled possession but struggled against a well-organised Real Sociedad B defence.
The red card that changed the game
The turning point came in the second half with the dismissal of centre-back David López. The referee, after a VAR review, awarded a penalty for a foul by the defender on Alex Lebarbier inside the area. The straight red card for López left Girona a man down for the final stages. The resulting penalty, however, was saved by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, temporarily preserving the draw.
The resistance did not last long. With six minutes remaining, Lander Astiazarán received a pass from Dani Díaz in the centre of the box and fired a right-footed shot past Gazzaniga to win the points for the hosts. The fourth official had indicated four minutes of added time, but a numerically disadvantaged Girona failed to create any danger.
Implications for the standings
They now trail leaders Castellón by five points and see Almería, their next opponent, close behind in second. The attack, which had scored 22 goals and conceded only 10 in 11 matchdays, found itself stifled. The team's top scorer this season, Yáser Asprilla with five goals, could not make the difference on this occasion.
Míchel's men must regroup quickly. Their next fixture is a high-stakes top-of-the-table clash against second-placed Almería at Montilivi on 8 November. A match that looks key for staying in the promotion race. To maintain their aspirations, the team will need to rediscover the attacking efficiency shown in recent wins such as the 5-1 victory over Celta de Vigo II or the 2-0 win against FC Andorra.
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