A costly mistake by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga determined the outcome of Girona’s first-ever Champions League match, as they fell 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
Portuguese left-back Nuno Mendes fired a low shot from a tight angle, which appeared manageable for Gazzaniga.
However, the Girona keeper made a crucial error, allowing the ball to slip through his hands and into the net, sealing PSG’s victory.
Despite PSG’s dominance, with 26 shots, Girona delivered a gritty defensive performance and seemed poised to secure a draw until Gazzaniga’s late blunder dashed their hopes.
The Spanish side, making their debut in Europe’s elite competition after finishing third in La Liga last season, remained composed throughout the match, effectively nullifying PSG’s attacking threats and frustrating the home side for most of the contest.
However, Girona struggled to create chances themselves, focusing primarily on defending against PSG’s relentless pressure.
Girona will look to bounce back in their next league-phase match when they host Feyenoord on Wednesday, October 2.
Meanwhile, PSG will prepare for a challenging away match against Arsenal on Tuesday, October 1.
