Girona has fallen 1-0 to Atlético de Madrid at the Metropolitano and will reach the final matchday with permanence still in play. Lookman has scored the only goal of a match that Míchel's team also finished with ten players due to Francés' injury in the final ten minutes.
The defeat does not take them out of the fight, but it does postpone the resolution. Levante's victory in Valencia keeps Girona dependent on their own results to avoid relegation, so the red-and-white team still has salvation in their hands despite not getting points in Madrid.
Girona kept pace until Lookman decided the match
Míchel repeated the lineup he had used in the previous match against Real Sociedad. The coach placed Tsygankov as a center forward and left Stuani on the bench at the start against an Atlético de Madrid that came out with a starting eleven formed exclusively by first-team players.
The Catalan team held the match for a good part of the encounter, but Atlético ended up winning by the narrowest of margins. The difference was made by Lookman, author of the 1-0 that ended up being definitive at the Metropolitano.
Near the sixtieth minute, Míchel resorted to Stuani to gain offensive presence in the final stretch. The forward came in with the aim of pushing Girona in search of the equalizer.
The plan became even more complicated in the final ten minutes, when Francés suffered an injury and left Girona with ten footballers on the pitch. The team thus faced the end of the match with a numerical disadvantage until Muñiz Ruiz signaled the end.
Montilivi will decide permanence on Saturday against Elche
Now all the pressure is transferred to Montilivi. Next Saturday, Girona will play a decisive match against Elche for permanence in the First Division.
The combination of results maintains a clear scenario for Míchel's team. Despite the setback in Madrid, a victory against Elche would mathematically secure Girona's salvation without depending on any other result.
Furthermore, Levante's victory in Valencia avoids any margin for relaxation on the final matchday. Girona will continue to depend on themselves, but they will need to respond at home to secure permanence.
The referee Muñiz Ruiz decreed the end at the Metropolitano with a 1-0 defeat, and Girona will play for continuity in the category next Saturday at Montilivi against Elche.