Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Minsu Kim scored twice in the first half as Girona FC beat UE Olot 3-1 in their pre-season friendly, with Javier Sarasa adding a third before Marc Mas pulled one back from the penalty spot.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Girona dominated the opening exchanges. Kim Minsu (listed as Minsu Kim) beat Olot goalkeeper Jordi Saucedo with a low cross-shot from the left in the 9th minute. The South Korean forced another sharp save from Saucedo soon after and set up Abel Ruiz for a chance the striker could not convert.
Just before half-time, Iván Martín threaded a pass through for Kim, who took one touch and slotted past Saucedo to make it 2-0 in the 42nd minute. The scoreline reflected Girona's control of the first half.
Girona extended their lead five minutes into the second half. Javi Sarasa, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder from Girona FC B, turned in a close-range effort from a corner delivery that evaded the Olot defence (50'). It was Sarasa's birthday — he turned 20 on the day of the match.
Olot grew into the game after the interval and enjoyed their best spell midway through the second half. Substitute Marc Mas tested Girona goalkeeper Sergi Puig with a pair of powerful strikes. In the 89th minute, young Olot forward Dani González was pushed in the area by Girona defender Francés, and Mas converted the resulting penalty to give the scoreline a more respectable look.
The turning point
Kim's second goal just before half-time effectively ended the contest as a meaningful affair. A 1-0 lead at the break would have given Olot a foothold; the 2-0 cushion allowed Álvarez to rotate freely at the interval, with Donny van de Beek, Morante and Bryan among those introduced. Olot's mini-revival in the second half never seriously threatened the result.
Key performers
Minsu Kim (Girona) — The 20-year-old South Korean was the match-winner with two goals from four shots. A constant outlet on the left flank, he was also involved in the chance Abel Ruiz missed. Named player of the match.
Javier Sarasa (Girona) — The B-team graduate celebrated his 20th birthday with a poacher's goal from a corner early in the second half (50'). His positioning in the box was a level above the Segunda Federación defence.
Jordi Saucedo (Olot) — The young Olot goalkeeper kept the scoreline from becoming a rout with several first-half saves, notably denying Kim's second attempt and Abel Ruiz.
Marc Mas (Olot) — The veteran striker was Olot's most dangerous player after the break, forcing two saves from Puig before converting the late penalty (89').
By the numbers — interpreted
Girona led 2-0 at half-time and finished with three goals, all from open play. Olot's sole goal came from a penalty won by 20-year-old Dani González. While full shot and xG data is not available for this friendly, the flow of the match tells a clear story: Girona controlled the first hour through superior technical quality, while Olot competed credibly in the final third once the visitors made wholesale changes.
Referee Antonio Ramírez Plaza kept the match flowing with no cards issued.
What it means
Girona now have a win on the board after their opening 0-0 draw against Saudi side Al-Qadsiah. Álvarez, who replaced Míchel as head coach in June after the club's relegation from LaLiga, will have been encouraged by the sharpness of his attacking players, particularly Kim, who looks set for a more prominent role in Segunda this season.
Girona's next pre-season fixtures: Alavés (25 July, behind closed doors at the Royalverd Training Centre), Castellón (29 July), and Arsenal at Montilivi in the 49th Trofeo Costa Brava (1 August).
Olot, who have now lost both pre-season friendlies, host Nàstic de Tarragona on 1 August, followed by CE Sabadell (9 August) and UE Sant Andreu (15 August), all at the Estadi Municipal.
Verdict
A straightforward pre-season workout for Girona against a lower-league opponent. Kim Minsu's two-goal display was the standout takeaway — the 20-year-old has given Álvarez a selection headache in the best possible way. Olot will take heart from their second-half showing but the gulf in quality between the Segunda and fourth-tier sides was evident throughout.
Match Events
Penalty
Olot and Girona have met 3 times — Olot won 0, Girona won 2, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2023. Girona leads the head-to-head with 2 victories from 3 meetings. A combined 13 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 4.33 per match (3 for the home side, 10 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 2 matches (67%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 2 games (67%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Girona are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–4 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 22 Jul 2026