Arnau Martínez’s 48th-minute equaliser was not enough to save Girona: the match at a completely full Montilivi finished 1-1 with Elche, a result that left Girona in 18th place and condemned the club to LaLiga Hypermotion.
Elche had taken the lead through Álvaro Rodríguez at 39 minutes, and La Tercera’s minute-by-minute account recorded the late deadlock at 90+8 minutes that secured Elche’s survival. Entering the final jornada with a two-point cushion over Girona, Elche had still not mathematically sealed its top-flight status before kickoff; the draw did the job.
The arithmetic was brutally simple: Girona could have secured permanence in Primera División only with a win. A draw or loss would keep the Catalans in the relegation places — and that is exactly what happened. La Tercera reported at 45+4′ that, at halftime, Elche were staying in the first division and Girona were going down; those halftime headlines were ultimately borne out by the final whistle.
Montilivi provided the kind of atmosphere teams dream of on a decisive day — officially expected to be full — but atmosphere could not alter the numbers. Girona began the match occupying 18th place, the final relegation slot, and spent much of the season wrestling with complications and irregular results that left their fate to be decided on the last day. For a side that needed three points at home, Arnau Martínez’s goal gave hope only briefly.
The timeline was stark: the game kicked off (1′), Álvaro Rodríguez put Elche ahead before halftime (39′), the visitors’ advantage was reflected in halftime reporting that Girona were on course for relegation (45+4′), and Martínez levelled early in the second half (48′). Final confirmation arrived deep into stoppage time when La Tercera recorded the 1-1 finish at 90+8′, and reported that Elche had maintained their category while Girona, along with Real Oviedo and Mallorca, lost theirs.
The match also underlined how slim margins decide a season. Girona entered needing a win but could not find the requisite second goal; Elche, carrying a modest two-point lead, did the minimum needed to survive. For Girona supporters packed into Montilivi, the emotion swung from hope to resignation in a matter of minutes.
What comes next is concrete: Girona will play in LaLiga Hypermotion after the club failed to secure the necessary victory. The club now faces the sporting and financial recalibration that follows relegation, while Elche can begin planning next season in the Primera División having clinched safety on the road at Montilivi.
For readers tracking Girona’s erratic campaign this term, the season’s pattern of fluctuations was decisive — a narrative that connects back to earlier results, such as Girona’s recent winless spells and home form described in previous coverage (see Girona Vs Real Sociedad: Survival stakes rise as both sides enter winless run and Girona Vs Betis: Betis without Antony as winless run meets Girona’s Montilivi form Arnau Martínez scored for pride; the club’s permanence required more than a single moment of brilliance.
