Girona Relegated From LaLiga After 1-1 Draw With Elche on Final Day

Last-Day drama sees Girona drop to Segunda

Girona pushed hard for a winner but could not break down Elche in a 1-1 draw that relegated them from LaLiga. Elche’s draw was enough to stay up after promotion last year.

Elche stay up in LaLiga after holding Girona to 1-1 Draw...

Girona’s three-season run in LaLiga ended on the final day after a 1-1 draw with Elche at Estadi Montilivi. The result confirmed Los Franjiverdes’ survival and sent Míchel’s side down.

The situation was straightforward for both teams. Girona had to win to stay up, while Elche only needed to avoid defeat to secure their place in LaLiga for next season.

Girona controlled the early stages and had nearly 75% possession in the first 15 minutes. Neither side wanted to take the first risk, and the opening half hour went by without a single shot on goal.

That changed in the 39th minute when Elche broke the deadlock with a moment of quality.  

Pedro Bigas headed the ball into the box for Alvaro Rodriguez. The striker stayed calm under pressure, taking several touches as if juggling the ball while Girona defenders closed in. He then turned sharply and smashed a volley into the roof of the net.

Míchel gave his players one final team talk at half-time to push for survival, and it had an immediate impact. Girona equalized less than three minutes after the restart.

Azzedine Ounahi struck a free-kick toward goal, and Matias Dituro could only parry it into the path of Arnau Martínez. Martínez reacted quickly and slotted home the rebound with a clinical first-time finish.

The goal did not give Girona the momentum they needed. The game became scrappy and stop-start again, much like the first half. With 10 minutes left and their LaLiga status on the line, Girona pushed everyone forward in search of a winner.

The pressure nearly paid off when Thomas Lemar picked up the ball outside the box and hit a stunning strike. It crashed against the crossbar, leaving the home crowd in disbelief.

Elche’s defense held firm in the closing minutes to secure the draw. The point was enough to keep them in LaLiga for another season following their promotion last year.

FT: #GironaElche 1-1

Elche stay in #LALIGAEASPORTS. 🔝#DesenlaceLALIGA pic.twitter.com/kdRoqd6UYM

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) May 23, 2026