In a captivating clash at Estadio Gran Canaria, Girona showcased their dominance, securing a resounding 2-0 victory over Las Palmas, propelling them into second place in LaLiga, according to Flashscore.
The match unfolded with Las Palmas showing early promise, earning a penalty within five minutes. However, former Premier League stalwart, Paulo Gazzaniga, exhibited his prowess with a remarkable save from Sandro Ramírez, denying the hosts an early lead.
Girona, enduring the longest away trip in European top-flight football this season, gradually found their rhythm after a slow start. Eric Garcia's jersey tug prompted a penalty, seized by Artem Dovbyk, only for Álvaro Valles to thwart his effort. Nevertheless, David López capitalized on the rebound, redeeming himself from his earlier penalty concession.
The relentless Girona side continued their onslaught, with Dovbyk narrowly missing an opportunity to extend their lead before halftime. However, their persistence paid off as Dovbyk clinically dispatched another penalty, marking his 19th goal of the season, despite Valles' valiant effort to deny him.
Despite Las Palmas' late surge, including a shot rattling off the crossbar, Girona maintained their composure to secure all three points. This triumph propelled them into second place temporarily, setting the stage for an electrifying Catalan derby against Barcelona in the upcoming fixture at Estadio Municipal de Montilivi.
Meanwhile, Las Palmas' woes persisted as they suffered their sixth consecutive defeat, languishing in 13th place and scoring only once during their dismal run of form.
Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid asserted their dominance in a crucial showdown against Athletic Club, clinching a vital 3-1 victory at the Metropolitano and extending their lead in the race for the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot.
From the onset, Atlético displayed an unwavering determination to overturn their previous shortcomings against Athletic, striking early with Rodrigo De Paul's emphatic half-volley finding the back of the net, courtesy of an opportune deflection off an Athletic defender's head.
Despite Atlético's initial lead, Athletic Club showcased their resilience, equalizing just before halftime as Nico Williams capitalized on Gorka Guruzeta's delivery, slotting the ball past Jan Oblak with precision, marking their first shot on target.
Refusing to relinquish control, Atlético swiftly regained the lead in the second half, courtesy of a sublime defense-splitting pass from Koke, expertly converted by Correa. Although Correa narrowly missed another opportunity to extend their advantage, fate favored Atlético as an own goal from Unai Simón, off Samuel Lino's shot, sealed the victory with ten minutes remaining.
Diego Simeone's side now boasts a comfortable six-point cushion in the standings, edging closer to securing their berth in the prestigious Champions League for the upcoming season. Conversely, Athletic Club finds themselves in a precarious position, enduring a winless streak of four league matches, compounded by their extended winless run away from home in H2H encounters.
Check out the latest Spanish Laliga Table below: