Girona kept their third-place challenge on track with a 2-0 win over Albacete at Estadi Montlivi. It was the seventh match of the Segunda División regular season, played on 25 September 2026. Abel Ruíz opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Donny van de Beek doubled the lead just before half-time. Albacete's night turned sour when Sergio Ortuno Diaz was sent off in added time, leaving them to finish with ten men.
Ruíz's early strike came from a sharp finish after Girona pressed forward. The home side had possession of 56 per cent and looked comfortable in the first half, though Albacete created more attacks — 95 to 75 — without troubling the goalkeeper. By then, the visitors had already accumulated two yellow cards, and the game was slipping away from them. To be fair, Albacete's expected goals figure of 2.58 suggested they were the more threatening side on paper.
The second half saw several changes from both managers. Girona brought on three players in the 66th minute, while Albacete responded with their own substitutions. Fran Gámez received a yellow card in the 67th minute, and Higinio Marín followed shortly after. The red card for Ortuno Diaz in the 90th minute left Albacete with nothing to play for and Girona content to see out the result.
The statistics told a curious story. Albacete registered 15 shots, five on target, against Girona's eight, three on target. They won more aerial duels and created three big chances compared to the hosts' one. Yet the xG figures showed Girona were more clinical — 1.63 to 2.58 — and the result reflected that. Many of Albacete's crosses went nowhere; they attempted 26, completing only six.
The win moves Girona further clear at the top of the table, sitting on 13 points from seven matches. Albacete remain rooted to 21st place with a solitary point and six defeats. It was a match decided in those opening moments, and the visitors never really found their footing after the first goal. And here's the thing — the second half was just noise, a few substitutions and yellow cards while Girona ran out the clock.
