Man Utd flop Donny van de Beek finally ends nightmare - before reality bites

Former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek scored his first goal in more than two years on Wednesday, but it wasn't enough to stave off defeat for new club Girona in the Champions League.

Van de Beek's last club goal of any kind had come on the final day of the 2021-22 season, when he netted for Everton in a defeat at Arsenal. He made just 20 outings across the following two seasons, for United and on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt, without finding the net.

A cut-price move to Girona followed over the summer, and brought with it some more first-team action in Spain. The 27-year-old has made four substitute appearances in La Liga as well as starting Girona's first two Champions League matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Feyenoord.

Van de Beek scored in the 73rd minute to bring Girona level against their Dutch opponents, tapping home from close range after a driving run from team-mate and compatriot Arnaut Danjuma. Wild celebrations followed, but ultimately it wasn't enough to rescue a point.

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Remarkably, Girona have scored three own goals across their first two games in Europe this term. Paulo Gazzaniga's late error gave PSG victory at the Parc des Princes, while Yangel Herrera and Ladislav Krejci both put through their own net against Feyenoord.

Both teams also had penalties saved in a chaotic game on Wednesday night. However, it was Krejci's unfortunate own goal which ended up settling the game.

That meant Van de Beek and his team-mates were left frustrated at the final whistle. It was the first time he had netted in the competition since 2019, when he was on target for Ajax in a 4-4 draw against Chelsea.

Can Donny van de Beek turn his career around at Girona? Have your say in the comments section

Girona finished third in La Liga last season after flirting with top spot for more than half the campaign. It has been tougher this term, though, with Michel's team in mid-table domestically and winless in Europe after losing star men Aleix Garcia and Artem Dovbyk and seeing loanee Savinho snapped up by Manchester City.

“We started the game very well," manager Michel reflected after the Feyenoord defeat (as translated by Football Espana). "We needed to adjust the pressure more because of the idea we had, but we were able to correct it later. There were 15 minutes that I didn’t like at all and that cost us two goals and a penalty, and it’s a shame because we had started well.

“I think the second half was very good in every way. We can’t afford to pass the ball for the sake of passing it, that’s useless, but I have nothing to reproach.”

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