VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) -Girona slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat at struggling Valencia on Saturday as an own goal by Juanpe and a deflected strike by Dani Gomez within two minutes in the second half gave the hosts a first LaLiga win in six games.
The victory moved Valencia from bottom to 18th on four points, one ahead of Getafe and two ahead of Las Palmas. Last-year’s surprise package Girona are 13th on seven points.
Valencia were toothless in a dour first half in which neither side managed to get a shot on target.
Despite controlling possession, Girona were out of ideas up-front and often exposed to counter attacks, after manager Michel made six changes to the team that lost 1-0 in the Champions League at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, when they conceded a last-minute goal due to a blunder by their goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Valencia broke the deadlock in the 56th minute following a bad mistake by the visitors’ defence when putting the ball in play. Gomez recovered the loose ball and fired a strike from long range that was heading wide until it deflected off Girona’s Juanpe and wrong-footed Gazzaniga before finding the back of the net.
Two minutes later, another error by Girona’s defence helped Valencia to secure the win when Ladislav Krejci gifted a pass to Gomez who fired a strike from the edge of the box, Valencia’s first and only shot on target, which slightly diverted off an opponent before slotting just inside the left post.
As Girona tried to make a late run, Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili showed why Liverpool decided to spend more than 30 million euros ($33.49 million) to sign him after he stood out with Georgia at Euro 2024.
The 23-year-old Mamardashvili, who is staying at Valencia on a one-year loan before moving to the Premier League next season, made a stunning reflex save to deny a bullet header by Girona’s Gabriel Misehouy in the 66th minute.
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(Reporting by Fernando Kallas in Madrid; editing by Clare Fallon)
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