Major concerns at Girona after a ruthless thrashing, negative leading role for Blind

Girona travelled to Villarreal on Sunday evening hoping to get their first points of the new La Liga campaign, but instead endured one of the most humiliating defeats of the round.

Without injured midfielder Donny van de Beek and with veteran Daley Blind starting in defence, the Catalans collapsed in spectacular fashion, losing 5–0 in a game that was effectively decided inside the opening half-hour.

The match began disastrously for Girona. Only seven minutes had been played when former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pépé, now revitalised in the colours of Villarreal, seized upon a catastrophic mistake in the visitors’ back line. A loose pass and a moment of hesitation between defenders allowed Pépé to nip in and fire the ball past Vladyslav Krapyvtsov. From there, the floodgates opened. Villarreal pressed relentlessly, exploiting Girona’s lack of pace and organisation, and within the following twenty minutes they scored three more goals to race into a 4–0 lead.

Daley Blind, the 34-year-old Dutch international signed to provide stability and experience, endured one of his most difficult nights in Spanish football. Tajon Buchanan, the Canadian winger, was his tormentor-in-chief. For Villarreal’s second goal, Buchanan accelerated past Blind with ease, leaving him stranded and finishing clinically. Blind’s lack of speed was brutally exposed. For the fourth, Buchanan again escaped him inside the penalty area, as Blind lost concentration and allowed the Canadian to ghost into space for another finish. By the time the scoreboard read 4–0 after just 30 minutes, the Girona bench looked stunned, and their supporters, who had travelled with hope, were left shaking their heads.

At halftime, coach Míchel faced an almost impossible task: how to prevent the scoreline from spiralling into a complete disaster. To Girona’s credit, they tightened slightly after the break, but the damage had already been done. Villarreal, with the game comfortably in their hands, dropped their intensity but remained dangerous on the counterattack. Buchanan completed his hat-trick late on, punishing more poor defending and a dreadful error from goalkeeper Krapyvtsov, whose weak attempt to block the shot only compounded an already miserable night.

The final whistle brought relief rather than frustration for Girona. A 5–0 defeat, their second consecutive loss of the season, left them rock bottom of La Liga with zero points and a goal difference of –7. It was a stark contrast to last season, when the club astonished Europe by qualifying for the Champions League under Míchel. Only a few months ago, Girona were hailed as one of the brightest stories in Spanish football, but now they find themselves in crisis, their defensive vulnerabilities laid bare and their confidence visibly shaken.

The criticism after the match centred heavily on Blind. Signed for his composure, tactical intelligence, and experience at Ajax, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, he has been praised in the past for his reading of the game. But against Villarreal’s pace, his weaknesses were glaring. Spanish media were unforgiving, describing him as “too slow and exposed,” while fans on social media questioned whether he still has the physical attributes to compete at the top level. His positional errors, combined with his inability to keep up with Buchanan, made him the clear scapegoat of the evening.

Goalkeeper Krapyvtsov also came under fire. His indecision for Pépé’s opener and his weak save attempt for Buchanan’s third goal highlighted a lack of authority. For a team that relies on defensive solidity to survive in La Liga, having both the centre-back and the goalkeeper faltering in the same match proved disastrous.

For Villarreal, the night could hardly have gone better. After an opening-day draw that left supporters questioning their sharpness, this emphatic victory reignited belief. Buchanan’s hat-trick not only showcased his clinical finishing but also underlined his growing importance to the team. Pépé’s goal demonstrated that he might finally be rediscovering the confidence that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after attackers. Villarreal’s midfield, marshalled by Dani Parejo, dictated the tempo, while their back line held firm whenever Girona attempted to push forward.

The victory also sent a warning to Villarreal’s domestic rivals. With European ambitions once again on their agenda, a win of this magnitude serves as a statement that they can be ruthless when opportunities present themselves. Coach Marcelino praised his team’s energy, organisation, and finishing, noting that the opening half-hour was “as close to perfect as possible.”

Meanwhile, Girona’s outlook appears bleak. Sitting bottom of the table after two matches, with heavy defeats and defensive chaos, the club faces questions about whether last season’s success was an overachievement. Míchel, once praised as a visionary, now must find solutions quickly. Reinforcements may be necessary before the transfer window closes, particularly in defence and goalkeeping. The injury to Donny van de Beek has further reduced their options in midfield, leaving the squad stretched.

The fans, too, are beginning to worry. Social media reactions after the game were filled with anger and disbelief, many pointing to the irony that a team playing Champions League football last season now looks incapable of competing in La Liga. Some supporters demanded greater investment from the club’s ownership to prevent what they fear could turn into a relegation battle.

The statistics underline just how poor Girona were. Villarreal registered 14 shots, 9 of them on target, compared to Girona’s 3. Possession was fairly even, but Villarreal’s efficiency was ruthless: five goals from nine shots on target tells the story of their clinical edge. Girona, by contrast, created almost nothing of substance, failing to register a single effort that seriously troubled Villarreal’s goalkeeper.

In the wider context of La Liga, the result leaves Girona facing an uphill climb. The league is unforgiving, and heavy defeats early in the campaign can have a lasting psychological impact. Recovering confidence will be as important as tactical adjustments. Their next fixtures suddenly look daunting, with pressure mounting on Míchel to deliver a response.

For Villarreal, however, the night was one of celebration. Buchanan’s heroics, Pépé’s sharpness, and the defensive discipline shown after establishing the lead will all be positives they carry into their next matches. With a squad boasting both experienced leaders and emerging talents, they will now believe they can push for the European places again this season.

In the end, the scoreline of 5–0 reflected not only Villarreal’s brilliance but also Girona’s collapse. It was a night that may be remembered as the moment Girona’s vulnerabilities were laid bare, raising questions about whether last season’s fairy tale was just that a fairy tale. Unless significant improvements are made, the club that soared into Europe may now be staring nervously at a fight for survival.