Girona FC lose to Arsenal in the 49th Costa Brava Trophy | OneFootball

Girona FC concluded a new preseason match this Saturday with the 49th Costa Brava Trophy - 150th Anniversary Estrella Damm at the Montilivi Stadium, where they fell to Arsenal FC 1-4 in a highly demanding game against one of the great clubs in European football.

The match allowed Quique Álvarez's team to continue accumulating competitive minutes and advance in their preparation for the 2026-27 season, against an opponent that showed a great pace of play from the very beginning. The Londoners took the lead in the 16th minute with a goal from Kai Havertz and extended their advantage in the 30th minute thanks to Christos Tzolis, reaching halftime with a favorable 0-2 scoreline.

After the break, Girona responded in the best possible way. The team started the second half with determination, and after two consecutive corners, Arnau Martínez reduced the deficit with a great header in the 50th minute, igniting Montilivi and reopening the game.

Arsenal's response, however, was immediate. Max Dowman restored the two-goal advantage just three minutes later, and Gabriel Jesus sealed the final 1-4 scoreline in the 55th minute. Despite the score, Girona continued to press for the opposing goal until the end, with chances from Minsu and Vladyslv Vanat that were met with strong saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The final stretch of the match allowed both coaches to distribute playing time among much of their squads and continue giving prominence to younger players, one of the main objectives of this preparation period.

The 49th Costa Brava Trophy once again turned Montilivi into the stage for a high-level international match, with an attendance of 13,540 spectators.