Spurs loan watch: Bryan Gil wins battle of the loanees

At the same time as Spurs were in action away to Manchester City in the Premier League, two Spurs loanees were locking horns on the continent. Bryan Gil’s Girona side were in La Liga action at home to Alejo Veliz’ RCD Espanyol side.

For the game, both players were named in the starting XI, with Gil starting off the left hand side in a 4231 formation, and Veliz leading the line in a 343 set up.

Bryan Gil comes out on top against fellow Tottenham loanee

It would be Girona, and Gil, who drew first blood in this Spurs match up. The 24-year old winger added to his first international goal in midweek by scoring after just four minutes of this game, with a left footed effort from just inside the box that caressed its way into the bottom corner, clipping the post.

Within 21 minutes, Gil would have two assists to go along with his goal, as he teed up striker Borja Miovski twice within a five minute period, as they raced into a 3-0 lead. Six minutes later, they had another. 

Girona would go into the interval 4-0 up, with a goal and two assists for Gil. As for Veliz, he was unable to get into the game, just like the rest of his team.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Spurs linked Javi Puado got one back for Espanyol, though it was surely too late to mean anything in the game. After 64 minutes, Veliz made way, and after 72 minutes, Gil made way for former Spurs winger Arnaut Danjuma.

During his 72 minutes on the pitch, the winger recorded; 44 touches, three chances created, two big chances created, 2/4 duels won, one foul drawn, one goal, and two assists.

It would indeed be too late, and that was that - as Girona would see the game out comfortably to win 4-1 in an emphatic victory. This result leaves them 5th in the La Liga table, with 21 points from their 14 games so far - whilst Espanyol will end the weekend in the bottom three, sitting in 19th place with 10 points from their 13 games.

Next up for Gil and Girona is a UEFA Champions League showdown with Sturm Graz on the road. This is a huge opportunity if they are to qualify for the play-off round, with their Austrian counterparts one of five sides to lose all four of their games in the competition this season. The game is on Wednesday, with a 17:45 GMT kick off.

As for Veliz and Espanyol, they host Celta Vigo on Saturday in La Liga, with a 17:30 GMT kick off for that one.