Girona Secures Crucial Draw in Relegation Battle Against Rayo Vallecano

Madrid (AP) — A dramatic last-minute strike by experienced forward Cristhian Stuani secured a vital point for Girona in their high-stakes match against Rayo Vallecano, ensuring Real Oviedo's relegation from La Liga.

Despite maintaining a two-point lead over the drop zone with three fixtures left, Girona now faces a precarious position as the race for survival intensifies.

With just six points separating ninth place from the bottom, the final weeks promise intense battles across the league.

Rayo Vallecano, fresh from a Conference League final appearance, entered the contest on strong form but struggled to break through Girona's defense.

Stuani, who previously rescued a corner kick in stoppage time, made another impactful cameo, heading home a deflected long-range effort in the 86th minute to level the score.

Both teams now need near-perfect performances in their remaining games to avoid the dreaded drop.

Girona sits in 17th, two points clear of Alaves, while Rayo occupies 10th place.

___

AP soccer: [SITEURL]/hub/soccer