From LaLiga new boys to title challengers: How Girona are writing a new chapter in LaLiga history

Girona are flying sky high in LaLiga under head coach Michel Sanchez.. Finishing tenth last term would’ve been more than enough for Girona fans to enjoy their return to LaLiga for the first time since 2019, but after hanging with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico up the top of the table, the Gironistes are dreaming big. With 13 wins from their 16 matches in the league, their climb up the table can’t be put down to chance and with the halfway stage of the campaign just around the corner there’s real talk of Sanchez’s side pulling off the greatest upset in LaLiga history to be crowned champions. The €60 million question is, can Sanchez’s stars sustain their title push and complete the greatest fairytale in Spanish football history or will the status quo resume in the new year?

With Girona edging ever closer to a seismic shock that will shake European football to its core, the footballing world eagerly awaits the next chapter of this unlikely journey. While the Blanquivermells have endeared themselves to many with their sensational run of form to date there is understandably still no shortage of cynics who have been down this road too many times to honestly believe the established elite of Spanish football can be unseated. History might tell us they can’t pull off the improbable, but recent results will surely convince one or two doubters that a power shift is in the works. New UK betting sites still have Girona as 5/1 to win La Liga this year. In their 16th match of the league campaign Sanchez’s men paid their Catalonian rivals and fellow LaLiga contenders Barcelona a visit with Girona arriving at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys as rank outsiders in what was to to be the most challenging test of their title winning credentials to date. They passed with flying colours. The visitors stunned the home support with a tactical masterclass that helped them walk away with all three points in a 4-2 win that not only gives them control of the title race, but also puts the rest of the league on notice; Girona are not to be taken lightly.

The result means the club are still yet to be defeated away from home having secured their eighth league win on the road with the last time they dropped points coming in the season’s opening fixture at Real Sociedad. Their superb away form has provided the platform for their unlikely title charge but to get the better of Barca in their backyard is a monumental achievement for any club with genuine aspirations of lifting the La Liga trophy aloft come the end of the season. While Xavi’s side might still be adjusting to life away from the cauldron that is the Nou Camp, it is still no simple task to topple the Catalonian giants on the road. The convincing display is by far the best marker for Girona’s eventual success we’ve seen so far and showed off the best attributes of this tenacious squad of players.

In trying to find an explanation for Girona’s success this season, few could look past their attack. Sanchez’s side are LaLiga’s top scorers alongside Real Madrid with 38 goals so far this season, averaging 2.375 goals a game. Summer signing Artem Dovbyk has been a revelation this season and is the club’s current top goalscorer in the league with eight goals and four assists from the Ukraine international’s 15 appearances. At just €7 million he is a steal and has already provided plenty of return for the club’s investment. Equally as valuable to the club’s march on the title is veteran striker Cristhian Stuani who at 37-years-old is enjoying one of his best seasons to date with six goals and two assists keeping him on track for his best goal tally in a single LaLiga campaign. These two experienced heads are paying dividendsl, but the exploits of Brazilian prospect Savio aren’t going unnoticed either. The 19-year-old has nine goal contributions already this season with the breakout star playing some scintillating football and providing real impetus to Girona’s attack out on the wing. These three have provided the spark in front of goal but there are goals throughout this team with 13 different goalscorers so far this season.

Their attacking flair has been the envy of the league and has even drawn comparisons to Barcelona teams of recent memory. The style of football the 48-year-old boss has imprinted on this squad clearly has the players brimming with confidence, firm in the belief they could play anyone off the park on any given day. In truth they could do with improving their performances at the back after leaking 20 goals this season but having said that, no team in Europe’s top five leagues has recovered more points from losing positions. They are demonstrating a resilience and knack of winning hard-fought tight encounters that has epitomised title-winning teams across Europe for decades. The true test of this team will be whether they can adapt their gameplan should the goals dry up but In the meantime the goals continue to flow and Girona have proven they can compete at the very top. It would be an astonishing achievement if they managed to bring the LaLiga trophy back to the Estadi Montilivi and it is one well within their reach.