Girona FC - Athletic Club

Athletic Club fell to a 3-0 defeat at Montilivi against a Girona FC side that made the most of their chances.

The scoreline was a harsh reflection of both teams’ performances, but Ernesto Valverde’s side paid dearly for their poor first-half display.

The Lions struggled with Míchel’s charges' build-up play from the back. The consequence was the first goal, with the hosts moving the ball comfortably from side to side, culminating in a powerful right-footed Hugo Rincón strike.

Athletic were unable to create any danger until the second half. Unai Simón thwarted Vanat before half-time to keep the scores at 1-0.

The Bilbao side came out fired up after the break. But they came up against Paolo Gazzaniga, an old warhorse, who twice prevented the equaliser with superb saves from point-blank range against Gorka Guruzeta and then Aymeric Laporte. The Argentinian denied Gorka again minutes later, tipping his header over the bar.

When it rains, it pours, and Girona found a second goal when a desperate overhead kick fell at Azzedine Ounahi's feet, the Morrocan slotting home from inside the six-yard box.

Claudio Echeverri scored the third in stoppage time. Iñaki Williams’ 500th match was sadly not the happy day the Rojoblanco legend deserved.