Girona have paid the ultimate price on a number of occasions recently while attempting to retain possession in and around their own penalty area.
Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, however, was in no mood to let old wounds re-open during Monday’s tense Catalan derby draw with Barcelona, racing back towards his own goal with just eight minutes on the clock before turning an errant back-pass narrowly wide of the post.
Perhaps that was the sharpener Gazzaniga needed. Because, for the remainder of Girona’s creditable Camp Nou stalemate, the former Tottenham Hotspur benchwarmer was alert and alive to everything Barcelona threw at him.
A close-range Raphinha volley was turned behind at the near post. Then came a sublime reaction stop to deny Ronald Araujo from point-blank range; displaying the sort of cat-like reflexes opposite number Marc-Andre ter Stegen would have been proud of.
And when Girona switched off to allow the 5ft 8ins Gavi a free header in stoppage time, Michel’s side found themselves indebted, once again, to the 31-year-old Fulham loanee playing regular league football for the first time since Hugo Lloris’ injury back in 2020, barring a brief spell as the Cottagers’ number one at the start of last season.
Former Tottenham keeper Paulo Gazzaniga shining in La Liga
“The team had personality,” coach Michel beamed; Gazzaniga’s virtuoso display lifting Girona eight points above the La Liga relegation zone. “There were two great saves from Gazzaniga. It’s important to have that bit of talent in goal.
“It was a very positive point, and I really like that we kept a clean sheet. Spectacular. I’m very proud of the players.”
Gazzaniga, once of Southampton and even Gillingham, has kept only two clean sheets in his 18 La Liga outings for Girona thus far.
But five months after earning his side 1-1 draw with a ‘fantastic save’ against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, Girona’s man for the big occasion once again stepped up in style as the Blanquivermells stormed into the home of a giant and sauntered out with a point.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
