Girona secure vital draw with Real Sociedad to escape LaLiga's relegation zone

Starting the match in 19th place amid a fiercely contested relegation battle and with few fixtures remaining to gain points, Girona made their intentions clear from the outset.

A cheer rang out from the stands when Joel Roca attempted an early shot, even though it was a weak effort that was comfortably saved, and further encouragement came when Viktor Tsygankov’s effort was tipped onto the post within four minutes.

Tsygankov then came close with a free-kick, but the home side were alarmed when Alex Remiro swiftly played a superb ball forward to release Ander Barrenetxea for a flicked shot that Paulo Gazzaniga came out to save.

The Blanquivermells continued to press for the opening goal, and Azzedine Ounahi found Arnau Martinez in the box with some clever play, although the captain made such a mess of his shot that the ball went out for a throw-in.

After withstanding further pressure, La Real took the lead in the 28th minute when Gazzaniga cheaply conceded a corner that resulted in Jon Martin outjumping three Girona players to head home Sergio Gomez’s delivery.

The visitors suffered a blow shortly afterwards as Barrenetxea limped off, but they at least remained ahead with Tsygankov heading wide and Remiro impressively tipping Ounahi’s shot over the crossbar.

Girona kept attacking after the restart, with Tsygankov having a shot blocked within two minutes of the second half.

Roca then curled a shot just past the far post and saw a header deflected into the side netting, while Mikel Oyarzabal resorted to cynically pulling down Ounahi to stop a breakaway and was booked.

Not to be held back, Girona finally found their equaliser in the 66th minute as half-time substitute Cristhian Stuani applied a clinical first-time finish to Martinez’s low cross, sparking ecstatic celebrations at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi.

Michel introduced Claudio Echeverri in a late change that almost had immediate results, but the Argentine’s shot flashed agonisingly wide as Girona were forced to accept their second consecutive draw.

That result lifts them three places and one point above the relegation zone, while they also sit three points behind 11th-placed Valencia. In doing so, they condemned Real Sociedad to a sixth LaLiga match in a row without a win.