Girona 0-0 Espanyol Player Ratings: Fernando Calero 8.5/10 Rated as A Tale of Missed Chances in a 0-0 Stalemate

A frustrating night at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi saw Girona and Espanyol fight to a goalless draw. This La Liga encounter was a classic case of what could have been. The visitors will be the team kicking themselves harder. They carved out the better opportunities throughout the match.

We watched Pere Milla get into fantastic positions time and again. However, his finishing was shockingly wayward. He could have single-handedly won the game for the visitors. Instead, both teams relied on their goalkeepers and some last-ditch defending. It became a tactical battle that lacked a decisive, clinical touch.

The game ultimately fizzled out into a stalemate. Both sides showed defensive resilience, but the lack of quality in the final third was apparent. It was a tough watch for fans hoping for goals. A point apiece feels fair on paper, but Espanyol knows they left two points behind. Here are the Girona vs Espanyol player ratings.

Girona Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Here are the Girona player ratings vs Espanyol.

Goalkeeper

Paulo Gazzaniga - 8.0: A commanding performance from the Girona shot-stopper. He made five crucial saves, including four from inside the box. What stood out to us was his save from Javi Puado in the second half. It was a key moment that kept his team level. He was a safe pair of hands all night and claimed the ball well. A well-deserved clean sheet for him.

Defenders

Vitor Reis - 7.5: A very solid display at the back. He was a rock, making a staggering 10 clearances. His passing was near-perfect, misplacing only one of his 65 passes. From our perspective, he read the game brilliantly, although he was beaten in the air a few times. He was a key reason Espanyol's forwards had such a frustrating evening.

Daley Blind - 7.5: The veteran was his usual composed self. He oozed class on the ball with a 93% pass accuracy and made three important interceptions. We noticed his intelligence in positioning throughout the game. He even created a chance late on. A typically polished performance from the Dutchman.

Alejandro Francés - 6.5: Had a decent game before being substituted. He was tidy in possession for the most part but did lose the ball 18 times which is a bit high. He delivered a great cross that led to a missed header from Witsel. A mixed bag but contributed positively before making way.

Álex Moreno - 7.0: A very busy performance from Moreno. He won an impressive 8 duels and was a constant outlet on the flank. However, he was also quite wasteful, losing possession 19 times and blazing two shots off target. His energy was commendable, but his final product needed to be better.

Midfielders

Hugo Rincón - 6.5: A quiet but efficient performance. He had an incredible 97% pass completion rate, which was impressive. He worked hard and drew a couple of fouls. But, he didn't offer much of a threat going forward before he was taken off. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Azzedine Ounahi - 7.0: He was a livewire in the midfield. Ounahi completed all four of his dribbles and was always looking to make things happen. The downside was his shooting, which was wild at times. He got into good areas but lacked the composure to finish. A frustrating yet energetic display.

Axel Witsel - 7.0: The Belgian provided a solid shield for the defense. He recovered the ball seven times and won most of his duels. We felt he kept things simple and effective. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but did his defensive duties diligently before being subbed.

Iván Martín - 7.0: The captain led by example with a hard-working display. He was tidy on the ball and recovered possession six times. He tried to drive his team forward but, like his teammates, couldn't find that killer pass. A solid effort from the skipper, but he couldn't break the deadlock.

Forwards

Portu - 5.5: A really difficult night for the forward. From our perspective, he never really got into the game. He committed three fouls and lost possession frequently. His one blocked shot was the extent of his attacking threat. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Vladyslav Vanat - 5.5: He will be having nightmares about his big missed chance. His left-footed shot was well-saved, but it was a golden opportunity. Beyond that, he struggled to make an impact and was caught in possession too easily. An error leading to a shot capped off a poor performance.

Substitutes

Bryan Gil - 6.0: Came on and had a blocked shot but offered little else.

Yáser Asprilla - 6.0: Looked lively but his shooting was wayward.

Arnau Martínez - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Cristhian Stuani - N/A: Caught offside in his brief cameo.

Jhon Solís - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

M. Sánchez Muñoz - 6.5: His team was defensively organized and difficult to break down. However, they offered very little going forward. The substitutions didn't change the flow of the game. A clean sheet is a positive, but the lack of attacking threat is a concern.

Espanyol Player Ratings vs Girona

Here are the Espanyol player ratings vs Girona.

Goalkeeper

Manuel Iori - 7.5: A strong performance from the Espanyol keeper. He made three important saves, including a fantastic stop to deny Vladyslav Vanat. What stood out to us was his command of his area, with two good high claims. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but he did his primary job very well.

Defenders

Fernando Calero - 8.5: An absolutely heroic performance and our man of the match. He was a human wall at the back, blocking an incredible five shots. He also made seven clearances and was a dominant presence. This was a masterclass in last-ditch defending. He was the main reason Espanyol came away with a point.

Carlos Romero - 7.0: A very eventful game for the defender. He was a constant threat, taking four shots, but also made a crucial error that led to a Girona chance. He was solid in the tackle, winning two of four attempts. A dynamic but slightly erratic performance.

Omar El Hilali - 7.5: An excellent all-round display from the right-back. He created three chances for his teammates and was defensively sound, making three interceptions. The yellow card was the only blot on his copybook. He provided a great outlet and his crossing was a constant threat.

Clemens Riedel - 7.0: A composed and effective performance. His passing was superb, with 93% accuracy. He made four clearances and was solid throughout. He even managed to get two shots away. A reliable and underrated display.

Midfielders

Urko González de Zárate - 6.5: He had a solid 65 minutes before being substituted. He recovered the ball six times and made four clearances. He kept things ticking over in midfield without doing anything spectacular. A decent shift.

Pol Lozano - 4.5: A day to forget for the midfielder. He was dribbled past a staggering six times and committed four fouls. He really struggled to cope with Girona's movement in the middle of the park. From our perspective, he was a clear weak link for Espanyol.

Pere Milla - 7.0: The most frustrating player on the pitch. He was everywhere, taking six shots and creating three chances. But his finishing was atrocious, with five shots flying off target. He could have had a hat-trick on another day. His energy and movement were top-class, but his wastefulness cost his team the win.

Tyrhys Dolan - 7.5: Looked like Espanyol's most dangerous player before he was surprisingly subbed off. He got two shots on target and created two chances. His direct running caused Girona problems all evening. We were genuinely surprised to see his number come up so early.

Forwards

Javi Puado - 7.0: The captain was a creative force, setting up two chances for his teammates. He had a good shot saved by Gazzaniga. He linked play well before being substituted. A good performance from the skipper.

Roberto Fernández - 6.5: A thankless task leading the line. He battled hard, winning four duels, but was often isolated. He had one shot on target but was otherwise feeding off scraps. He worked tirelessly for the team without much reward.

Substitutes

Edu Expósito - 6.0: Came on for Zárate but didn't have a major impact.

Charles Pickel - 6.0: Added some fresh legs but was quiet.

Jofre Carreras - 6.0: Looked bright in his short time on the pitch.

Kike García - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Ramon Terrats - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

J. González Álvarez - 7.0: His game plan worked to an extent. His team created numerous clear-cut chances but just couldn't finish them. The decision to take off Tyrhys Dolan early was a strange one from our perspective. He'll be immensely frustrated not to have won this game.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Fernando Calero