PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain (Interstat) — In a stunning opening-day La Liga result that defied pregame projections, Girona secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Mallorca on Sunday at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.

The match, played on Jan. 4, 2026, was forecast by statistical models to heavily favor the hosts. Interstat’s ELO system gave Mallorca an 89.90 percent probability to win. However, Girona’s resilience, fueled by impactful substitutes, turned the predictions on their head and delivered a significant early-season away win.

Mallorca, playing before its home supporters, controlled the early phases of the contest and was rewarded in the 25th minute. The opening goal came from forward Vedat Muriqi, who finished a chance created by midfielder Sergi Darder. The assist was Darder’s key contribution, providing the hosts with a deserved lead that seemed to align with the pregame expectations.

Girona struggled to find a consistent response in the first half, and the physicality of the match began to show as the clock wound toward halftime. Mallorca’s Samu Costa received a yellow card in the 37th minute for a tactical foul, one of three bookings in the game. The visitors went into the break trailing but with a belief that a single moment could shift momentum.

That moment arrived in the second half through a pair of strategic substitutions. Girona manager introduced Viktor Tsyhankov and Vladyslav Vanat, and the duo would become the architects of the comeback. Tsyhankov announced his presence quickly, finding the net to equalize for Girona and swing the match’s energy toward the visiting side.

The goal galvanized Girona and disrupted Mallorca’s rhythm. The hosts’ frustration was evident when key midfielder Sergi Darder was shown a yellow card in the 58th minute, quickly followed by a booking for Mallorca substitute Àlex Moreno in the 59th.

With the match now wide open, Girona’s other substitute, Vladyslav Vanat, completed the turnaround. He scored the decisive goal, assisted by fellow substitute Àlex Moreno, to put Girona ahead 2-1. The assist was Moreno’s notable contribution off the bench, directly influencing the final outcome.

Mallorca pressed for a second equalizer in the final half-hour but could not break down a resolute Girona defense a second time. The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for the visitors, a result that precisely matched the final score projection of Interstat’s game simulator, albeit through a far different narrative than the probability models suggested.

The victory gives Girona a perfect start to its La Liga campaign, moving its league record to 1 win and 0 losses. Across all competitions, Girona also stands at 1-0. For Mallorca, the defeat marks a disappointing beginning, with its records in La Liga and overall both shifting to 0 wins and 1 loss.

The match underscored the unpredictable nature of league football, where statistical advantages do not guarantee results. Girona’s effective use of its bench proved the difference, with Tsyhankov and Vanat providing the crucial goals to secure three valuable points on the road.