Getafe's Substitute Brilliance Breaks Girona's Resistance

Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. Getafe's 2-1 victory over Girona was a masterclass in tactical patience and clinical finishing that exposed the visitors' toothless possession game.

The Substitute Gambit That Rewrote the Script

At the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, Getafe turned the match on its head in the final 20 minutes through the introduction of fresh legs. Mario Martín arrived from the bench in the 72nd minute to slot home the breakthrough, assisted by Luis Milla, breaking an intensity stalemate that had defined the first 70 minutes. Fourteen minutes later, Borja Mayoral sealed the comeback with a clinical finish set up by substitute Alex Sancris, a one-two punch that left Girona reeling.

Possession Without Purpose: Girona's Fatal Flaw

The visitors dominated territorial balance with 60% possession and 403 passes, yet their xG of 1.43 told the real story—a team that moved the ball without creating genuine danger. Getafe's defensive structure, despite 40% possession, suffocated Girona's attacking avenues. Eight corners for the hosts created relentless set-piece stakes, while Girona managed just three, a disparity that reflected their inability to impose their game.

Stuani's Late Drama: A Consolation with Teeth

Cristhian Stuani converted a VAR-confirmed penalty at 90+2, a moment of defiance that briefly threatened to rewrite the narrative. Yet it merely delayed the inevitable. Girona's form—1 win in 11 matches, -14 goal difference—makes this defeat another brick in their relegation battle wall. Getafe's victory, meanwhile, consolidates their mid-table standing and proves that sometimes the team with less of the ball wins the war that stakes demand.