On March 15, 2025, Girona and Valencia faced off at the Estadio Municipal de Montilivi for LaLiga EA Sports jornada 28. The match ended with both teams sharing the spoils after finishing 1-1.
Valencia opened the scoring thanks to Diego López, who netted the first goal of the match with his strike from close range. López was assisted by Dimitri Foulquier, who delivered the perfect cross to set up the goal.
Just minutes after Valencia took the lead, Girona equalized through the veteran forward Cristhian Stuani, who, at 38 years of age, scored with a powerful header, displaying his experience and positioning inside the box. His goal came from a well-placed cross by Miguel Gutiérrez.
The match started with both teams knowing the importance of securing points. Despite their contrasting season objectives—Girona aiming for European qualification and Valencia fighting to stay out of the relegation zone—their performance on the pitch reflected the intensity of the encounter.
The first half saw both teams exchange occasional opportunities, but neither could break the deadlock until the second half. The referee, José Luis Munuera Montero, remained vigilant throughout, issuing yellow cards to various players, including Donny van de Beek and José Gayà for fouls during pivotal moments of the game.
Throughout the game, Valencia's defense was tested heavily, but goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili stepped up with several impressive saves, including one from Arnau's header, which kept the scoreline respectable for Valencia.
Girona came close to taking the lead several times, especially after their equalizer when they pressured Valencia with renewed vigor, even pushing for the winning goal. Their attempts included shots from Javi Guerra and Donny van de Beek, both of which just went off-target or were saved by Valencia's goalkeeper.
The dynamic of the match fluctuated significantly after each team made tactical substitutions. Valencia replaced Diego López and Enzo Barrenechea late on with Fran Pérez and Pepelu, hoping to increase their offensive threat. Girona also made key changes, bringing on Yáser Asprilla and Portu to inject energy and creativity with aspirations of clinching the three points.
Despite the deadlock, Valencia still maintained their position just above the relegation zone, moving to 28 points for the season, whereas Girona climbed to 34 points, remaining comfortably mid-table.
After the final whistle, coaches and players alike reflected on the match, acknowledging both the positives and negatives. Valencia's coach, Carlos Corberán commented on the importance of the point gained, stating, "This point keeps us outside the drop zone and shows our resilience. We can build on this moving forward." Meanwhile, Girona's Míchel emphasized the need for greater efficiency as they progress through the season.
Overall, the match showcased the tenacity of both squads, as each side fought for points. With just five minutes of added time to conclude the match, neither team could capitalize on their chances to find the winner, ending the game with yet another chapter written between Girona and Valencia, both teams leaving the pitch with seemingly mixed feelings.