Girona opens the season with a hard-fought draw against Leganés

The Girona began their return to LaLiga Hypermotion with a 1-1 draw against Leganés at Montilivi. A point with mixed feelings: Quique Álvarez's team was superior for much of the match, created more chances, and controlled possession, but they had to suffer until the end to avoid a defeat that would have been excessive based on what was seen on the pitch.

The match started with Girona determined to take the initiative. The home team moved the ball with purpose and found spaces, especially through Bryan Gil, Minsu, and Morante. Leganés, well-organized, opted to wait in a lower block and look for quick transitions. Girona had several approaches but lacked precision in the final meters. Arnau Martínez even managed to score, but the play was ruled out for offside.

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The first half ended 0-0, a result that left the game open, with Girona having done more to deserve a lead. But just as the second half began, the script changed dramatically. In the 48th minute, Naim García surprised Gazzaniga with a spectacular shot from outside the box that went into the top corner. Leganés took the lead and put Girona on the ropes.

The goal forced Quique Álvarez to make changes. The introduction of Abel Ruiz in the 58th minute gave the home team more offensive presence, followed by the entries of Asprilla and Stuani. Girona threw themselves at Raúl Fernández's goal and began to accumulate chances. The Leganés goalkeeper had to work hard, while the post also denied the visitors a second goal from an Álvaro Tejero shot in the 61st minute.

The final minutes were a constant attack from Girona. Asprilla tried from outside the box, Stuani had two good chances, and Àlex Moreno came close to finding the back of the net. Leganés defended closer and closer to their area, aware that they were on the verge of a valuable victory.

But football ultimately did justice to the home team's effort. In the 90th minute, a free kick into the area ended with Abel Ruiz sending the ball into the back of the net. The forward salvaged a point that Montilivi had already begun to consider lost and turned the draw into a reward for Girona's persistence and control. A dominance reflected in the statistics: 69% possession and 27 shots for Girona compared to just 5 for Leganés.

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