Girona's dream of staying in La Liga has vanished this Saturday, May 23rd, at Montilivi. The team could not defeat Elche and is relegated to the Second Division four years after their promotion. A string of poor results and the pressure of a must-win match took their toll on a team that fought until the end, but without success.

Despite the vibrant atmosphere in the stadium, Girona showed nervousness from the start. Elche took the lead with a goal from Álvaro Rodríguez in the 39th minute of the first half. In the second half, a goal from Arnau gave the home team hope, but it was not enough to turn the score around. A shot hitting the crossbar by Lemar was the clearest chance that could have meant salvation, but luck was not on their side.

Relegation means that next season Montilivi will host matches against teams like Ceuta and Andorra, a stark contrast to the possibility of hosting major teams like Barça or Madrid. This ending marks a turning point for the era of coach Míchel.

Coach Míchel Sánchez took responsibility for the relegation: "I feel very responsible for what has happened. We will have to talk and make decisions." Although he did not wish to announce his immediate future, he made it clear that the situation requires a thorough analysis with the club.

The team's sporting planning for the season has been questioned, but the focus was on the need to win against an Elche side that secured survival with a draw. Mallorca's defeat against Oviedo was irrelevant to Girona's fate, as they needed a victory.

The match was marked by absences and tactical decisions, with players like David López entering the starting lineup. Despite Girona's desperate attempts in the final minutes, the scoreline remained unchanged, confirming their move to the Second Division.