La Liga surprise package Girona beat Alaves to move back to the top of the table.
Artem Dovbyk headed in their opener after Yan Couto’s shot was parried by Alaves keeper Antonio Sivera.
Portu doubled their lead with a strike from near the edge of the area following a cross by Couto.
Manchester City loanee Couto then won a penalty, which Ukraine striker Dovbyk converted for his 10th La Liga goal of the season.
Dovbyk is thought to be the club’s record signing, having joined for a reported £6m from Dnipro in the summer.
Michel’s Girona, who are co-owned by the City Football Group that also includes Manchester City, are two points above Real Madrid.
The Catalan side, who have never won a major trophy, are nine points above neighbours Barcelona in third place.
Girona could seal top spot at Christmas – and the halfway point of the season – if they win at Real Betis on Thursday.
Line-ups
Girona
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 13Gazzaniga
- 25García
- 5LópezSubstituted forRamírez Lópezat 79′minutes
- 17Blind
- 20Bueno CoutoSubstituted forMartínezat 79′minutes
- 23MartínSubstituted forSolísat 73′minutes
- 14García
- 3Gutiérrez
- 24Portugués ManzaneraSubstituted forTorreat 64′minutes
- 16Moreira de OliveiraSubstituted forFernándezat 64′minutes
- 9Dovbyk
Substitutes
- 1Martín Corral
- 2Bernardo
- 4Martínez
- 6Kébé
- 11Fernández
- 15Ramírez López
- 18Torre
- 22Solís
- 26Fuidias
Alavés
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Sivera
- 14TenagliaBooked at 39mins
- 16Marín
- 3Duarte
- 2GorosabelSubstituted forSolaat 73′minutes
- 8BlancoSubstituted forBenavídezat 78′minutes
- 6Guevara
- 27López
- 18GuridiSubstituted forHagiat 61′minutes
- 32OmorodionSubstituted forKikeat 73′minutes
- 11RiojaSubstituted forRebbachat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Sola
- 9Karrikaburu
- 10Hagi
- 15Kike
- 17Alkain
- 19Maras
- 21Rebbach
- 23Benavídez
- 31Owono
- 36Muñoz
- 43Montero
- 44Parada
- Referee:
- Francisco José Hernández Maeso
- Attendance:
- 11,812
Live Text
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Match ends, Girona 3, Alaves 0.
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Second Half ends, Girona 3, Alaves 0.
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Offside, Girona. Valery Fernández is caught offside.
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Valery Fernández (Girona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Álex Sola (Alaves).
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Attempt missed. Kike García (Alaves) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Abde Rebbach.
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Rubén Duarte (Alaves) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box.
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Attempt blocked. Ianis Hagi (Alaves) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nahuel Tenaglia.
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Attempt missed. Javi López (Alaves) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Álex Sola with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Abde Rebbach (Alaves) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Antonio Sivera.
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Attempt missed. Abde Rebbach (Alaves) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Javi López with a through ball.
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Substitution, Girona. Arnau Martínez replaces Yan Couto because of an injury.
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Substitution, Girona. Juanpe replaces David López.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Yan Couto (Girona).
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Substitution, Alaves. Carlos Benavídez replaces Antonio Blanco.
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Attempt missed. Valery Fernández (Girona) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jhon Solís.
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Corner, Alaves. Conceded by Miguel Gutiérrez.
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Attempt missed. Álex Sola (Alaves) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Antonio Blanco.
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Substitution, Girona. Jhon Solís replaces Iván Martín.
