Girona secure vital draw versus Real Sociedad to escape LaLiga relegation zone

Starting the game in 19th position amid a fiercely contested fight against relegation with few fixtures left to gain points, Girona quickly demonstrated their determination.

The crowd erupted when Joel Roca fired an early effort, even though it was a straightforward save for the keeper, and spirits lifted further as Viktor Tsygankov’s attempt was diverted onto the upright within the opening four minutes.

Tsygankov nearly scored with a free kick that just missed, yet the home side faced a moment of concern when Alex Remiro lofted an excellent pass to send Ander Barrenetxea through for a deft effort that Paulo Gazzaniga rushed out to block.

The Blanquivermells pressed on for the breakthrough, with Azzedine Ounahi linking up cleverly to set up Arnau Martinez inside the penalty area, but the skipper fluffed his chance so badly that it rolled out for a throw in.

After weathering more attacks, La Real went ahead in the 28th minute after Gazzaniga gave away a soft corner, leading to Jon Martin rising above three Girona defenders to nod in Sergio Gomez’s inswinger.

The away team took a hit soon afterwards when Barrenetxea hobbled off injured, though they held firm as Tsygankov nodded astray and Remiro impressively clawed Ounahi’s strike over the bar.

Girona resumed their assault following the interval, Tsygankov seeing an early second half shot charged down within two minutes.

Roca then bent an effort just beyond the back stick and had a header nudged behind for a corner, as Mikel Oyarzabal cynically hauled back Ounahi to halt a counter and picked up a yellow card.

Undeterred, Girona levelled matters in the 66th minute when Cristhian Stuani, who had entered at the break, slotted home a sharp first time volley from Martinez’s driven pass, sparking wild joy at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi.

Míchel brought on Claudio Echeverri late on, nearly paying off instantly, but the youngster’s strike sailed narrowly wide, leaving Girona to settle for back to back stalemates.

This result lifts them three spots and a single point clear of the drop zone, and they trail 11th placed Valencia by three points too, in the process dooming Real Sociedad to a sixth successive LaLiga game without victory.