Euro 2024 Qualification: Spain’s 3-1 victory against Georgia is overshadowed by Gavi’s knee injury

<p>In a European Championship qualification match on Sunday, Spain defeated Georgia 3-1 at home with to goals and assists from Ferran Torres. However, the game was overshadowed by midfielder Gavi’s possibly catastrophic knee injury.</p>
<p>When Gavi hobbled off in the 24th minute against Valladolid, he broke down in tears.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-283783″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/theindiaprint.com-on-november-23-pm-modi-will-go-to-mathura-for-braj-raj-utsav-untitled.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com on november 23 pm modi will go to mathura for braj raj utsav untitled” width=”1630″ height=”1085″ title=”Euro 2024 Qualification: Spain's 3-1 victory against Georgia is overshadowed by Gavi's knee injury 3″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/theindiaprint.com-on-november-23-pm-modi-will-go-to-mathura-for-braj-raj-utsav-untitled.jpg 275w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/theindiaprint.com-on-november-23-pm-modi-will-go-to-mathura-for-braj-raj-utsav-untitled-150×100.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1630px) 100vw, 1630px” /></p>
<p>Gavi’s goal for Spain in a 1-0 victory against Norway in October guaranteed both Spain and Scotland’s places in the tournament in Germany the following year.</p>
<p>The 19-year-old Barcelona youngster clashed with an opponent and sustained a severe blow to the side of his right knee. After a few minutes of play, he seemed to injure the same leg while attempting to handle the ball. He then informed the squad right away that he was unable to continue.</p>
<p>After giving his young youngster a hug, Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente led Gavi into the locker room accompanied by team physicians.</p>
<p>Four minutes into the match, Torres curled a cross to the second post, where the Real Sociedad central defender headed in to give Spain the lead via Robin Le Normand.</p>
<p>Tenth-minute comeback by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia equalized the score after some clumsy defense by Le Normand and Dani Carvajal.</p>
<p>Álvaro Morata’s point-blank effort was parried by Georgia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who plays for Valencia in Spain, in a reflex save that left the score tied at halftime.</p>
<p>In the 55th minute, Torres scored from José Gaya’s cross when his header went above Mamardashvili’s reach and off the ground.</p>
<p>During his excitement, Torres raced to the bench and held up Gavi’s shirt to dedicate the goal to his clubmate.</p>
<p>“We think it could be serious, given how we know Gavi is a warrior and how he left the field, but we don’t know the extent of the injury,” Torres said. “Our goal is for him to recuperate as soon as possible.”</p>
<p>De la Fuente only included Gavi and Le Normand in his starting lineup from Spain’s 3-1 victory in Cyprus on Thursday.</p>
<p>Group A leader Spain finished first with 19 points. Scotland tied 3-3 with third-place Norway in Glasgow to go into second position with 17 points.</p>
<p>With eight points from eight games, Georgia came in fourth place.</p>