Girona 2-1 Valencia Player Ratings: Arnau Martínez Rated 8/10 as Hosts Snatch Victory in a Thrilling 2-1 Contest

Finally, a team that was struggling this season had good news as they earned important three points after beating Valencia. Girona, who had been in a tough spot with few wins, showed grit in their La Liga clash. They dominated the game with smart plays and key goals, lifting their spirits and climbing the table.

Here are the Girona vs Valencia Player Ratings

Girona Player Ratings vs Valencia

Here are Girona Player Ratings vs Valencia

Goalkeeper

Paulo Gazzaniga - 7.0: A really solid performance from the Girona keeper. We noticed he was particularly sharp in the second half, making a fantastic save to deny Largie Ramazani. He made five saves in total. He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. From our perspective, his distribution was a bit hit-or-miss, with only 19% of his long balls finding their man, but his shot-stopping was crucial for the win.

Defenders

Vitor Reis - 6.5: A committed display from the defender. He was strong in the air, winning four of his six aerial duels which really stood out to us. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul, but it was probably necessary at the time. He did his job without much fuss, making five clearances and keeping things relatively tidy at the back. A decent, if unspectacular, outing.

Daley Blind - 6.5: The veteran was a calming presence in the backline. What we saw was his intelligence in reading the game, making two important tackles and three clearances. He was comfortable on the ball, as you'd expect, completing 82% of his passes. He was beaten on a couple of occasions, but overall, it was a steady performance that helped his side secure the points.

Alejandro Francés - 6.0: It's a tough one to rate as his game was cut short by injury after just 23 minutes. He actually looked quite bright in his short time on the pitch. He even managed to create a big chance. It was a real shame to see him go off so early. Hopefully, the injury isn't too serious.

Midfielders

Arnau Martínez - 8.0: Our man of the match, without a doubt. What a performance from the captain. He was defensively solid, winning six of his nine duels and getting a crucial block in. But the defining moment was his goal, popping up in the box to score the winner. That's what separates good players from great ones. He earned his yellow card late on, but it was for the team. An all-action display.

Axel Witsel - 6.5: A classic Witsel performance. He was the silent engine in midfield, breaking up play and keeping possession ticking over. We noticed his seven ball recoveries and two successful tackles. He didn't offer much going forward, but that wasn't his role. He provided the stability that allowed others to attack. A disciplined and effective game.

Iván Martín - 5.0: Oh, what a rollercoaster for Iván Martín. For 80 minutes, he was playing quite well, linking play and working hard. Then, it all fell apart. To get a second yellow card for a needless foul was just baffling and put his team under immense pressure. The red card completely overshadows his earlier work and tanks his rating. A moment of madness he will regret.

Álex Moreno - 6.5: A reliable performance on the flank from Álex Moreno. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he was solid and dependable. His passing was neat with 90% accuracy. We saw him make three interceptions, showing good awareness. He was a bit quiet offensively, but he fulfilled his defensive duties well which was important for the team's structure.

Forwards

Portu - 5.5: A frustrating afternoon for Portu. What stood out to us was the big chance he missed early in the game which could have changed the complexion of the match. He seemed to struggle to get involved, with only 18 touches before being substituted. He also picked up a booking. Not his finest hour by any means.

Yáser Asprilla - 6.5: A lively and energetic performance, though it was mixed with some frustration. He created a big chance and was always looking to make things happen with his dribbling. However, he lost possession 11 times, which was far too often. From our perspective, he has the talent but needs to add more consistency to his final product.

Vladyslav Vanat - 7.5: He was excellent before being substituted. He scored a brilliant opening goal, a fantastic strike from outside the box. Vladyslav Vanat was a constant threat, getting two shots on target. It was a bit surprising to see him taken off, as he was causing the Valencia defence real problems. A great contribution to the victory.

Substitutes

Hugo Rincón - 6.0: Thrown into the action early for the injured Francés, he did a commendable job. He held his own defensively and won a few free kicks. A long and difficult shift for a substitute.

Cristhian Stuani - 6.0: Came on for Vanat but didn't have the same impact. He was caught offside once and couldn't get a clear sight of goal. Worked hard to press the defence.

Bryan Gil - N/A: A late substitute to help see out the game.

Lancinet Kourouma - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes with little time to make an impact.

Manager

M. Sánchez Muñoz - 7.0: His team got the job done. The substitutions were logical, even if taking Vanat off felt a bit premature. He managed the game well after the red card, ensuring his team stayed compact to secure the three points in this La Liga encounter. A deserved win in the end.

Valencia Player Ratings vs Girona

Here are Valencia Player Ratings vs Girona

Goalkeeper

Julen Agirrezabala - 6.0: It was a difficult day for the Valencia keeper. He was left exposed for both goals and couldn't have done much about either. He made two saves, including one to deny Vanat from close range. His distribution was okay, but he was on the losing side and that's what counts. An average day at the office.

Defenders

Mouctar Diakhaby - N/A: His game ended after just six minutes due to a very unfortunate injury. We can't give him a rating but wish him a speedy recovery.

César Tárrega - 6.0: As captain, he had a tough task against a lively Girona attack. He played the full 96 minutes and had the most passes in his team. However, his defence conceded twice and looked shaky at times. He even provided a key pass, but his primary job was to defend, and his unit was breached twice.

Thierry Correia - 6.5: A pretty energetic performance from the fullback before he was substituted. We noticed he was keen to get forward, even forcing a good save from Gazzaniga with a shot from distance. He won all three of his duels. It was a decent shift overall, providing both defensive cover and an attacking outlet.

Jesús Vázquez - 6.5: A solid and industrious performance from Jesús Vázquez. He was strong in his duels and made three important clearances. He also had a shot on target, testing the keeper from range. From our perspective, he was one of Valencia's more reliable performers on the day, balancing his duties well.

Midfielders

Luis Rioja - 6.0: A hard-working but ultimately frustrating game for Luis Rioja. He got through a lot of running and drew a couple of fouls. However, his final product was lacking, and he picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He never stopped trying, but couldn't provide the spark Valencia needed.

Diego López - 8.0: Clearly Valencia's best player on the pitch. What stood out to us was his constant drive and threat. He scored the equalizer with a well-taken finish and was desperately unlucky to see another effort crash back off the crossbar. He was involved in everything good for his team. A brilliant individual performance in a losing effort.

Pepelu - 7.0: The main man in Valencia's midfield. He had 82 touches and was constantly trying to dictate the tempo. He created two chances and was a threat from set-pieces. On the downside, he lost possession 16 times and was sometimes overrun. Still, a very influential performance from Pepelu.

Baptiste Santamaria - 5.5: A very quiet first half from the midfielder. He struggled to get into the rhythm of the game and was largely anonymous before being hooked at halftime. With only 28 touches, he just didn't make the impact required. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Forwards

Arnaut Danjuma - 7.5: A very dangerous and effective performance. His cross for the goal was perfect, and he created another big chance that wasn't converted. Arnaut Danjuma was a constant menace with his pace and skill. From our perspective, he was one of the few Valencia players who consistently troubled the Girona defence.

Lucas Beltrán - 6.0: He worked tirelessly up front, winning a good number of his duels and trying to hold the ball up. However, he offered very little goal threat and was caught offside at a key moment. His effort was there, but the quality in the final third was missing before he was subbed.

Substitutes

Copete - 6.0: Came on early for Diakhaby and had a busy game. He found himself in the opposition box for set-pieces and had a couple of blocked shots but couldn't find the net.

Javi Guerra - 6.5: Brought some much-needed energy to the midfield after coming on at halftime. He had a shot on target and looked to drive the team forward.

Largie Ramazani - 6.0: Almost made a huge impact, forcing a great save from Gazzaniga. Looked lively but couldn't find the equalizer.

Hugo Duro - 5.5: Didn't have much of an impact after coming on.

Dani Raba - N/A: A late sub with little time to influence the game.

Manager

C. Corberán Vallet - 6.0: His team showed good fight to get back into the match. The halftime substitution worked well. However, they couldn't manage the game after equalizing and conceded again almost immediately. His late substitutes failed to find a way through a 10-man Girona, which was disappointing from their perspective.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is