Girona FC 0-1 Almeria at Montilivi was decided by a single moment of quality in the second half, as Almeria left Catalonia with a hard-fought Spanish Segunda Division victory on 8 November 2026. Leo Baptistao’s composed finish proved the difference on a night when Girona enjoyed plenty of the ball but could not turn territorial control into goals.

Match overview

Girona began the evening looking to impose themselves at home, pushing their full-backs high and circulating possession through midfield. Almeria, by contrast, set up to absorb pressure and strike on the break. The pattern was established early: Girona probed, Almeria stayed compact, and the visitors grew more comfortable as the first half wore on.

The decisive goal arrived in the 67th minute. A quick transition from an Almeria interception sent the ball into the channel, and Baptistao held off his marker before sliding a low finish beyond the Girona goalkeeper. Montilivi fell quiet, and although Girona pushed numbers forward late on, Almeria’s back line held firm through five minutes of stoppage time.

Key moments

• 12th minute: Girona’s first clear opening came from a low cross into the box, but Almeria goalkeeper Luís Maximiano smothered the ball before a home forward could connect.
• 34th minute: Almeria threatened on the counter, with a driven shot from the edge of the area forcing a strong save at the near post.
• 67th minute: The breakthrough. Baptistao ran onto a through ball, kept his composure, and finished low into the far corner for the only goal of the game.
• 78th minute: Girona appealed for a penalty after a tangle inside the box, but the referee waved play on and the visitors cleared the danger.
• 90+3 minutes: A late Girona header looped toward goal, but Maximiano backpedaled and tipped it over the bar to preserve Almeria’s clean sheet.

Tactical story

Girona’s 4-3-3 shape gave them control in midfield, with Iván Martín dropping deep to link play and the wide forwards stretching Almeria’s defensive block. The problem was penetration. Almeria defended narrow, protected the central lane, and forced Girona into crosses that were comfortably dealt with by the centre-backs.

Almeria’s 4-2-3-1 became a compact 4-4-2 without the ball, and their discipline was impressive. Lucas Robertone helped screen the space in front of the defense, while the front players conserved energy for counterattacking moments. That approach paid off with the goal, and from there Almeria managed the game expertly, slowing the tempo and using substitutions to reinforce the midfield.

Standout players

Leo Baptistao was the obvious difference-maker for Almeria. His movement in behind was constant, and his finish was the calmest moment of a tense contest. Luís Maximiano also deserved credit for a handful of important saves, including the late stop that secured all three points. For Girona, Iván Martín was the most inventive player on the pitch, repeatedly finding pockets between the lines, but he lacked a decisive partner in the final third.

Season impact

The result gives Almeria a valuable away win in the Segunda Division promotion race, lifting them into the thick of the playoff conversation. For Girona, it is a frustrating home defeat that leaves them ruing missed chances in a match they largely controlled. With the table tightening, dropped points at Montilivi could prove costly as the season moves toward its decisive months.