Why Girona is Upsetting the Spanish League

Despite being one of the oldest football clubs in Spain, Girona FC was a club consigned to the lower leagues for much of its history. After spending many years floundering in the third and fourth tiers of Spanish football, they eventually qualified for the Segunda División for the 2016-17 season. They were quickly promoted to La Liga but faced relegation after a less-than-impressive two-year run.

After holding their own in the second division for several seasons, Girona once again secured promotion to La Liga, returning to the big league in 2022. After a 10th-place finish in 2023, nobody was expecting great things from the Catalonian club this year. However, Girona FC have defied all the critics, with the 2023-24 season quickly turning into one for the history books.

An Unprecedented Winning Streak

Last August, Girona kicked off their 2023-24 season against Real Sociedad. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, which was seen as a pretty solid result considering Girona’s track record. However, this lukewarm starter was just the warmup. Girona blazed through their next six league fixtures, winning each match by a comfortable margin. It wasn’t until they’d come up against Real Madrid that Girona would be dealt their first loss of the season.

A 3-0 defeat would be enough to throw even the best squads off their game, but the Girona boys quickly dusted themselves off and secured a further five consecutive victories. Since then, they’ve not lost a single match, even beating out La Liga heavyweights Barcelona in a historic 4-2 victory. As of January 2024, they’ve won 15 out of 19 matches and drawn three times. If it weren’t for that single loss against Real Madrid, they’d have a near-perfect run under their belts.

Will Girona FC Go All the Way?

At the time of writing, Girona FC are perched in second place in the La Liga league table, with only Real Madrid above them. While they might have left every other La Liga team in their wake, including heavy hitters like Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, it would be foolish to count out either squad at this point. Will Girona be able to hold their own against either team should they face them again on the pitch? They stand a real chance. Will Girona be able to take down Real Madrid should they make it to the finals? That’s another matter entirely.

But something similar was said about Leicester CF back in 2016. The English team, back in the Championship this season, upsetted everyone and won the Premier League, eight years ago. If the small Catalan team can repeat this feature, it will be an absolute fairy tale that might inspire some films or themed online slots.

The Power Players Behind Girona’s Success

While the entire squad deserves praise for Girona’s unprecedented performance, a few key players from the lineup stand out. Veteran player Cristhian Stuani is finally coming into his own as team captain, but it’s new arrivals to the team that have helped take Girona to the top. Daley Blind is without doubt the most valuable new arrival to the team, with the versatile Dutch player helping take home the win with a goal against Atlético Madrid. Ukrainian transfers Viktor Tsygankov and Artem Dovbyk have also proved their worth, with both men bolstering Girona’s goal-scoring prowess.