Girona welcomed the visit of Atletico Madrid in the opening weekend of the new La Liga season with the hosts taking part in their first-ever game in the Spanish top flight.
A first-half brace from frontman Christian Stuani had put the hosts in touching distance of a memorable opening win, but they were denied in the second half as Angel Correa and Jose Gimenez brough registered to earn Atleti a late point on the road.
Relive all of the action with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Good evening everyone and thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Girona's clash with Atletico Madrid on the opening weekend of the new La Liga season.
This will be Girona's first time competing in La Liga and what better way to kick things off than facing arguably one of the most hardworking, industrious sides in European football. The hosts will likely have their work cut out this evening.
Atletico finished third in the league last term, but they will have to show some strength this term if they want to keep pace with both Real Madrid and Barcelona, especially when you take into account the impact of the club's current transfer ban.
Given the restrictions around Atletico's purchases this summer, the club has only brought in Vitolo but he has had to go straight out on loan to Las Palmas as he cannot be registered to play for Diego Simeone's side until January.
In some ways the ban has arguably helped Madrid keep hold of some of their key players, though. Antoine Griezmann is a prime example, after the forward vouched to remain at the club given their inability to bring in fresh faces should he have headed elsewhere in Europe during the summer.
Pre-season proved to be a bit of a mixed-bag for Simeone's men, who were able to win the Audi Cup friendly competition, although they did play out a rather lacklustre draw with Getafe nearing the end of their preparations. Having said that, those friendlies go out of the window now and all the visitors will care about today is picking up three points on the road against an inexperienced and newly-promoted side.
Right, time for some team news now...
GIRONA STARTING XI: Iraizoz; Maffeo, Espinosa, Alcala, Muniesa, Aday; Garcia, Pons, Granell Nogue; Portu, Stuani
GIRONA SUBSTITUTES: Bono, Garcia, Kayode, Luiz, Moreno, Planas, Juanpe
ATLETICO MADRID STARTING XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Savic, Lucas; Gabi, Koke, Saul, Carrasco; Torres, Griezmann
ATLETICO MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Correa, Fernandez, Gaitan, Gonzalez, Moya, Vietto, Vrsaljko
So as expected, Simeone has started with what is arguably his strongest side here this evening. Fernando Torres and Griezmann will lead the visitors' attacking line, with further attacking support provided by Saul and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco out on the flanks. In the middle Koke and Gabi will be expected to hold the centre of the pitch for Atleti.
As well as needing to shut out Atleti here, Girona will need to improve in front of goal if the club's pre-season results are anything to go by. The newcomers drew 2-2 with Barcelona B, but were unable to score in draws against Brighton & Hove Albion, Olot and Reus, while they also lost 1-0 to Getafe during the summer period.
PREDICTION! Not long to go until kickoff now and it is time for me to make a prediction. Despite being relatively inactive during the summer window, Atletico still have a deep squad and the quality on show in this starting XI would be adept enough to give any European side a run for their money. Given Girona's lack of nouse in the league, I'm backing the visitors for a comfortable 3-0 victory on the road tonight.
Girona did do a piece of standout business during the summer after managing to land former Middlesbrough frontman Christian Stuani, and Madrid will need to be wary of his guile going forward. That said, this Atletico defence are certainly no slouches.
The ground is filling up nicely and what an occasion for these home fans, who are now finally get the chance to experience top flight football! We will be underway very shortly.
KICKOFF! Referee Juan Martinez Munuera blows the whistle and we are moving at the Estadi Montilivi.
Already Atletico are at it with the press, as Girona aim to take their first official touches in La Liga. The hosts soon lose possession, however, leaving Gabi with the chance to strike from distance, although his effort is blocked on its way to goal.
Girona seek to put some early pressure on Simeone's men down the flanks, where Aday whips a ball towards the box, only to see his tame cross headed away at the first attempt by Madrid.
The newcomers have certainly tried to put themselves about in these opening moments. The ball breaks kindly to Alex Granell Nogue, who spoons a rebound embarrassingly over the bar. Madrid look to spring on the break where Torres finds himself beyond the last man, only for the linesman to flag the forward for offside.
The hosts are trying to play themselves into this contest and the ball almost works out for Pablo Maffeo, but the pass is just a little overhit and Atleti can clear the danger. This has been a promising start from the league's new boys!
Stuani brings himself into the game for the first time tonight as he collects on the edge of the box. HIs effort on goal is a tame one, though, leaving Oblak with plenty of time to get down low and make a comfortable save.
CLOSE! Some increasing pressure almost pays off for Girona, who whip the ball with pace into the box from a corner. It looks like the hosts might just poke the ball home, although Gimenez makes a vital clearance to prevent the goal.
Aday has been impressive so far and he comes close once more. This time the playmaker picks up possession just inside the area, before seeing a whistling effort fly just past the far-post. Madrid have failed to offer anything in the first ten minutes.
Someone's men are looking slightly flustered after an impressive start from Girona. Stuani has been lively and he almost breaks beyond the last man, only to be denied by a strong tackle from a retreating Savic.
Madrid have been unable to thread anything noteworthy going forward and Saul seeks to change that. The winger comes forward and breaks inside, before lashing a wild effort high and wide of Iraizoz in the home goal. Griezmann doesn't look best pleased with that effort.
Madrid enjoy a comfortable spell of possession as they try to find a way through the Girona numbers. The home side are able to pinch the ball and launch a counter, where Aday comes away before crossing into the area. Thankfully for the away side, Savic can hoof clear without any trouble.
CLOSE! Griezmann almost turns on the fireworks for the visitors... The frontman finds some space before picking out the run of Torres with a delightful through-ball beyond the defence. It looks as though Torres might be able to latch onto it, although somehow Alcala manages to get a vital foot in to intercept.
GOAL! GIRONA 1-0 ATLETICO MADRID (CHRISTIAN STUANI)
Hello... do we have a possible upset on our hands here? Girona have looked dangerous when the ball goes wide and this time Stuani makes the most of his leap as he beats his marker to an aerial ball before heading beyond a stranded Oblak. An impressive header to go with an impressive start from the newcomers. Simeone does not look happy on the sidelines. Madrid have been vacant thus far.
GOAL! GIRONA 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID (CHRISTIAN STUANI)
You really couldn't write this stuff if you tried... Juanfran picks up a needless free kick, leaving Girona with the chance to put something into the box. Granell Nogue lifts a ball into the middle, where it ball eventually rebounds high towards Stuani. The frontman is quickest to react again and is able to divert his second header of the contest beyond a perplexed Oblak in the Atleti goal.
Madrid are coming across slightly rocked to say the least. They just haven't been able to get their collective foot on the ball. Simeone's trademark pragmatism isn't on show here either, Atleti have been all-at-sea at the back for both of these goals and Girona are currently full value for their lead. The visitors have a lot of work to do if they want to get back into this game.
Midfield has been an issue too, and Girona have been able to exploit the numbers in the middle in order to put a stranglehold on proceedings. This is really odd to watch in terms of this Madrid side. Girona are in total control here and Atleti's energy of last season looks like a distant memory.
Another corner comes into the middle for Girona and they win it once more inside the Madrid box. The header comes back across the face of goal, where Savic is able to clear without too much pressure on his shoulders.
SHOT! It's Madrid first one on target this evening as a sharp exchange on the edge of the box allows Carrasco to hit one on the bounce, but the effort is a tame one and Iraizoz saves with ease.
Girona get sucked into the Madrid box, where the ball is won and the visitors are able to spring a counter. The ball is moved into the feet of Griezmann, who leads the charge towards the edge of the home box. The frontman slips a pass into the feet of Carassco who moves cleverly to the left, although Pedro Alcala reads the game well and nips the ball away from the feet of the Atleti forward.
Juanfran is finally able to make use of the right flank as he turns in an early ball into the middle of the box. Griezmann hangs back before making a late run towards the ball, but Espinosa gets up highest to head clear and keep the hosts lead intact.
ALMOST! Nearly a third for the home side and Simeone has turned green on the sidelines. A ball is drilled across the box with far too much ease on the right, leaving Portu to poke towards goal having lost his marker. The ball bobbles up towards the back-post, leaving Oblak with just enough time to scramble across and push clear.
One minute of additional time in the first half...
HALF TIME: GIRONA 2-0 ATLETICO MADRID
What a first half for Girona who are two goals to the good in their first ever appearance in the top flight of Spanish football. If anybody sees the Atletico Madrid will all know and love, please send them our way! The visitors have been virtually non-existent here. Madrid have been second-best to every ball and Girona have dictated the pace of this contest.
Atletico's defending has been shambolic at times, especially for both of those goals. Up until tonight, no side has ever scored two headed goals against Atletico with Simeone in charge. That statistic is a measure of how bad Atleti have been in the first half. The Madrid boss will likely be throwing things in that dressing room during the break.
That shouldn't take the gloss off of what has been an outstanding showing so far from Girona in this contest. The newcomers have played with real energy and have an obvious game-plan. They have shown lots of industry and have so far marked Griezmann and Torres out of the game with some tight defending.
SECOND HALF! We are moving again in Spain, Madrid get the second period going...
Better already from the visitors, who break in the centre through Torres. The ball is worked out to the left, where Carrasco turns a cross into the middle for Griezmann. The frontman looks to get a shot away on the spin, before realising that he has already been flagged for offside.
More pressure on strikers has seen Madrid try to look for the runner with long balls. This time Koke seeks to thread something from deep, but he overhits his pass and is unable to find the run of Torres.
Madrid build up a bit of steam in the middle, where the ball is slipped in round the back for the run of Juanfran. Muniesa produces some wonderful defending, though, as the full-back reads the pass to perfection and steps in at the crucial moment.
CLOSE! What an effort this would have been from Griezmann. Torres does really well to win a testing header in the middle of the box, leaving the ball to pop free in the air. Griezmann is the fastest man in the area to react, although his bicycle kick flies just a few inches wide of the post.
SAVE! Madrid should clear a corner away through the head of Saul, but the midfielder can only send his clearance straight towards Portu. The frontman reacts well to turn back a header of his own towards goal, leaving Oblak to get across and make a smart, diving save.
Following that early flurry from Madrid, Girona have settled back into a comfortable tempo similar to the one they were able to put together in the first half. This has been an imperious display from the newcomers.
SUBSTITUTION: Juanfran is replaced with Correa and it looks like Simeone is going for a slight change in system here, with three possibly being deployed at the back.
Koke seeks to stretch proceedings on the left and he has the beating of his marker, although the winger does not quite have the required quality to find either of the club's strikers waiting in the middle. Madrid are slightly going through the motions at the moment.
YELLOW CARD! The visitors are starting to show their frustrations and Lucas Hernandez is the latest to go into the book.
Still Girona are reluctant to give Atletico an inch on this pitch. Koke again tries to move down the left, only to eventually by hounded out by no less than three bodies from the newly-promoted side. The hosts have been remarkably drilled by their coach.
The flanks have been where the damage has been caused by Girona. This time the hosts break down the right, leaving Savic to clear clumsily for a needless corner. Oblak does really well, however, as he takes the ball out of the air with Stuani lurking and smelling a hat-trick.
RED CARD! What have we just seen here? Griezmann goes into the book for a supposed dive, which replays actually show might just be a penalty. All of a sudden, the referee then flashes his red over the head of the Frenchman, who has seemingly picked up another booking for dissent. Game over for Simeone and company?
You have to feel slightly sorry for Griezmann there, it is hard to see where the dive was in all honesty. Madrid have been slightly improved in this second half, although Girona have shown no signs of weakness and still look comfortable despite this being their first ever game in La Liga. What a victory this would be for Pablo Machin's men.
Madrid are still attempting to get back into this, but they just cannot find the quality necessary for it at the moment. Gorka Iraizoz is called into action down low to keep out a cross, before the stopper does really well next up to claim a cross from Savic.
GOAL! GIRONA 2-1 ATLETICO MADRID (ANGEL CORREA)
We have a game on our hands now! Correa comes inside and produced a wonderful solo run that sees the substitute beat the best part of four defenders. The striker is heading away from goal, but he then lashes beautifully to send a whipped shot past a diving Iraizoz.
What will the nerves do for the hosts? Stuani gives the ball away needlessly in the middle following a poor touch. This could be a long 10 minutes for the home fans!
CLOSE! Madrid should be level... Vietto gets a little bit lucky as the ball breaks to him on the right channel of the box. He has the beating of his marker, but can only lash wildly over the bar without testing the Girona stopper.
GOAL! GIRONA 2-2 ATLETICO MADRID (JOSE GIMENEZ)
Ouch, that really has to hurt for the hosts who have been nothing short of brilliant here. A free kick is whipped into the middle, where the Girona stopper comes out to claim. Gimenez gets to the ball first, though, leaving the centre-back to head into an empty net and bring the visitors level.
Girona have the chance to test Oblak on the edge of the box with a promising free kick, although the ball is smashed wide without troubling the stopper.
We are going to have four minutes of additional time. Maybe enough for a winner here?
SAVE! Almost a late winner for the home side, who are denied right at the death by a pure reflex save from Oblak, who dives down low to keep out Kayode's effort.
FULL TIME: GIRONA 2-2 ATLETICO MADRID
What a treat for the neutrals! You have to feel so sorry for Girona though, who arguably did enough to win that contest. They will surely be welcome additions to this league after that showing. As usual with Atletico, they never give up and have somehow managed to rescue a point having barely turned up in the match. That is going to be all from me tonight, thanks for joining us!
