# Stuani’s Late Strike Breaks Valladolid Resistance as Girona Grinds Out Hard-Fought Victory

**By Tomás Ferreira**  \nPublished August 3, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> Cristhian Stuani came off the bench to break Real Valladolid's stubborn resistance in the 80th minute, securing a vital 1-0 away victory for Girona at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla.

When Cristhian Stuani stabbed home from very close range in the 80th minute at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla, it was the culmination of a grueling tactical chess match. Played on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Matchday 36 of LALIGA EA SPORTS saw Girona break down a resolute Real Valladolid side 1-0, with David López providing the decisive assist following a set-piece situation.

For large stretches of the contest, Valladolid's defensive structure frustrated a visiting Girona side that controlled 53 percent of possession. Alvaro Rubio set his hosts up in a compact 5-4-1 defensive block, designed to absorb pressure and limit central progression. Girona, deploying a 4-2-3-1 shape that frequently tilted into fluid attacking rotations, found their usual vertical avenues choked by yellow-shirted markers. Despite registering 13 total shots to Valladolid's 11, clear-cut openings were at a premium until the closing stages.

The first half passed with both sides trading blocked efforts and cautionary fouls. Girona probed through Viktor Tsygankov and Yáser Asprilla, but Valladolid goalkeeper Karl Hein stood firm, collecting crosses and thwarting attempts from close range. Midway through the first half, Valladolid was forced into an early tactical adjustment when Iván Sánchez replaced the injured Chuki in the 24th minute. Shortly after the interval, another substitution altered the defensive dynamic as Alejandro Francés entered for Arnaut Martínez on the Girona side.

## Breaking the Deadlock Through Set-Piece Persistence

As the match wore into the final twenty minutes, Girona manager Michel turned to his bench, introducing Arnaut Danjuma and Cristhian Stuani in the 71st minute to inject urgency into the final third. The move paid dividends directly from a dead-ball scenario. David López rose during a set-piece sequence to direct the ball into the danger zone, where the veteran Stuani reacted quickest to turn a right-footed shot past Hein from point-blank range.

Valladolid had their moments to snatch a result before and after the concession. Mario Martín proved to be a persistent threat from midfield, testing Paulo Gazzaniga with a first-half long-range effort and later having a close-range header saved in the 86th minute. Raúl Moro also caused problems down the left channel, but Girona's backline—anchored by Daley Blind, Juanpe, and López—managed six crucial corners' worth of pressure and survived a late six-minute stoppage-time surge.

The underlying metrics reflected a tight, attritional affair. Girona edged the expected goals battle with 1.39 xG compared to Valladolid's 0.91, and managed 21 touches in the opposition box against Valladolid's 13. Yet, the hosts' defensive discipline under extreme late-season duress nearly earned them a valuable point before Stuani's predatory instinct altered the scoreline.

## Match Details and Disciplinary Record

**Match Statistics Overview:**
Attendance: 12,664
Referee: Alejandro Quintero González
Possession: Real Valladolid 47% - 53% Girona
Total Shots: Real Valladolid 11 - 13 Girona
Shots on Target: Real Valladolid 3 - 4 Girona
Corners: Real Valladolid 6 - 4 Girona

Discipline was remarkably well-managed by referee Alejandro Quintero González, who kept his cards in his pocket throughout the 90 minutes despite 17 total fouls (5 by Girona, 12 by Valladolid). A penalty appeal for Real Valladolid in the 57th minute was dismissed following a VAR review, ensuring the match remained delicately balanced until Stuani's intervention.

With the three points secured, Girona navigated a tricky away fixture against a fighting Valladolid side that ultimately could not sustain their resistance across the full ninety minutes.

## Sources

- [laliga.com](https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/match/temporada-2024-2025-laliga-ea-sports-real-valladolid-cf-girona-fc-36) — original
- [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/soccer/commentary/_/gameId/705016) — original
- [skysports.com](https://www.skysports.com/football/real-valladolid-vs-girona/live/506650) — original
- [fotmob.com](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/matches/girona-vs-real-valladolid/2olljb) — original
- [ca.sports.yahoo.com](https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/laliga/girona-real-valladolid-13522890/) — original
- [Girona finish 2024 on a high, ending a nearly month-long winless streak by cruising past struggling Real Valladolid at home on Friday.](https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/la-liga/articles/girona-3-0-real-valladolid-michels-side-emphatic-as-they-return-to-winning-ways-2024-12-20) — original