Gerard’s Milestone Goal Reflects Mixed Emotions

In the 42nd minute of the match, Gerard executed a swift turnaround to unleash a powerful left-footed strike, precisely finding the corner of the net from the edge of the area. The Catalan forward refrained from celebrating his goal, raising his arms with hands clasped in a gesture of apology to the Espanyol supporters. This goal was significant for his team, considering the timing of its arrival, yet it carried a bittersweet tone, as it came against a club that holds a special place in his heart.

This milestone also marked a personal achievement for Gerard, as he had previously faced Espanyol multiple times in the Primera Division without scoring. With this latest goal, he has now encountered his former team seven times. It is worth noting that he has not managed to find the net against Oviedo, whom he competed against this season, nor did he score in either of the two matches against Córdoba during the 2014/2015 campaign. However, he faced both of these teams only once in the top tier of Spanish football.

At the age of 33, Gerard has played against 32 different teams as a Primera Division footballer. In stark contrast to Espanyol, he has found considerable success against Granada, having scored against them on eight occasions, making them his most frequent victims. Additionally, he has netted seven goals each against teams like Alavés, Levante, Celta, Eibar, and Real Sociedad.