Girona left Vallecas with a one-all draw against Rayo Vallecano in a match that got complicated at the end and which they could only rescue with a header from Cristhian Stuani after a corner kick. Míchel's team remains out of the direct relegation zone, but barely holds a one-point margin.
The tension for the Girona team grew because several direct rivals did add points on the matchday. Sevilla, Llevant and València won, while Alabès, Elx and Mallorca added a point, so the draw in Madrid avoids an immediate fall but leaves Girona with very little cushion before hosting Reial Societat.
Míchel changed the attack and Girona held the match before the 85th-minute blow
The Girona coach opted from the start for Lemar as a false nine instead of Echeverri, left Blind out and placed Francés in the center of defense. The plan gave him control in stretches, although Rayo found spaces and forced Gazzaniga to intervene before halftime.
Gazzaniga stopped Camello in a one-on-one before halftime.
Girona's clearest chance in that phase came after a mistake by Lejeune, but Óscar Valentín prevented the goal by clearing a shot from Joel Roca off the line. The match also saw an action reviewed in the home team's penalty area, when the referee signaled a penalty for a handball and VAR overturned it, understanding that there was no infringement.
Already in the second half, Míchel moved the bench and removed Lemar and Ounahi to bring in Iván Martín and Echeverri. With those changes, Girona sought more presence up front and more continuity with the ball in a match that remained open.
Alemao put Rayo ahead and Stuani responded with a header a few minutes later
The decisive stretch arrived in the final minutes. Alemao put Rayo ahead in the 85th after a loss between Francés and Rincón on a throw-in, an action poorly resolved by Girona when the draw seemed settled.
Alemao scored in the 85th minute after a loss between Francés and Rincón.
The Girona team, however, reacted from a dead ball. Shortly after, Cristhian Stuani equalized with a header from a corner kick and avoided a defeat that would have left Girona in an even more delicate position in the lower reaches.
The point allows Míchel's team to remain one point above the direct relegation zone, although the fight for permanence tightens after the results of the other contenders. Girona's next match will be on Thursday at home against Real Sociedad.