Girona's impressive season has caught the attention of football fans around the world. They have already defeated football giants Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, scoring four goals on each occasion. Now, as they face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, Girona finds themselves being compared to another underdog success story – Leicester City.
Leicester City's remarkable triumph in the 2015-16 Premier League season serves as a reference point for smaller teams attempting to topple the established elite. In LaLiga, a competition dominated by the likes of Madrid, Barça, and Atlético, Girona is inching closer to achieving their own version of a 'Leicester' fairy tale with each point they accumulate.
Many expected Girona to fade away after Madrid put an end to their seven-game unbeaten run earlier this season. However, they have defied expectations and remain undefeated in 15 league matches since then. When they faced Barcelona in December, the anticipation was that their unbeaten streak would come to an end, but Girona emerged victorious with a 4-2 win. The same doubts resurfaced when they clashed with Atlético in January, only for Girona to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory.
Girona is simply refusing to fade into the background. With just one loss in 23 matches this season, they currently sit just two points behind league leaders Madrid. If they can defeat Carlo Ancelotti's side on Saturday, they will rise to the top of the table with 14 games remaining. It would be a remarkable achievement for a team operating with the seventh-lowest spending cap in LaLiga. Despite their limited resources, Girona plays an exhilarating brand of football worthy of a much larger budget. They are the top scorers in LaLiga, with 52 goals to their name, averaging over 56% possession per game.
Girona's attacking prowess is complemented by their impressive pressing and relentless harrying of opponents. Their style of play has left even their rivals in awe. After losing to Girona in December, Valencia striker Hugo Duro acknowledged their relentless intensity, saying, 'there is a reason they are league leaders.'
As Girona continues to defy expectations, their players are stepping into the spotlight and catching the attention of bigger clubs. Brazilian winger Sávio, on loan from fellow CFG team Troyes, has garnered interest from reigning European champions Manchester City. Meanwhile, Girona's Ukrainian striking duo, Artem Dovbyk and Viktor Tsyhankov, have impressed with their goal-scoring prowess.
Building on their strong attacking game, Girona has also improved defensively. Earlier in the season, defensive lapses plagued them in victories over Granada, Mallorca, and Osasuna. However, in their last seven matches, they have kept four clean sheets.
Despite their impressive form, Girona faces stiff competition. Madrid, even with key players missing due to injury, have remained unbeaten in 17 league games. Furthermore, traditional powerhouses Barcelona and Atlético, though experiencing some underperformance this season, are still putting up a fight. Both teams have more points at this stage of the season than Leicester City had in their title-winning campaign.
Girona's sporting director, Quique Cárcel, understands the magnitude of Leicester's achievement and recognizes that Girona's path will not be identical. However, he notes that Girona's success has given hope to fans who have grown accustomed to Madrid, Barça, and Atlético dominating LaLiga. Cárcel encourages fans to embrace the moment while understanding the challenges that lie ahead.
As Girona continues to make waves in LaLiga, the differences between Girona and Leicester become apparent. Leicester had a larger population and a more modern stadium with greater capacity. Girona, on the other hand, is a city associated more with basketball and cycling, and their home stadium, Montilivi, holds just 14,000 fans.
Moreover, Girona lacks the footballing history that Leicester had before their triumph. Leicester had been a part of the English top flight for many years, with previous accomplishments including being runners-up in 1929 and winning the League Cup multiple times.
While Leicester benefited from a lack of competition towards the end of their title-winning season, Girona faces a more challenging landscape. Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético are all fierce competitors, accumulating points consistently. Girona's current tally exceeds Leicester's at the same stage of their campaign, but the road to success remains arduous.
However, Girona remains optimistic. As they head into this crucial match against Madrid, a victory would make a resounding statement and strengthen the belief that they are genuine contenders. Midfielder Aleix García recognizes the challenge ahead but remains hopeful, stating that Girona aims to maintain their consistency as they approach the final matches of the season.
Girona's journey has captivated football fans, and the comparison to Leicester City's remarkable feat adds to the fascination surrounding their season. While Girona and Leicester are unique entities, the allure of an underdog story remains. The possibility that Girona could go to the Santiago Bernabéu and claim victory fuels hopes and dreams. As Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga aptly stated, 'These are the beautiful things that can happen in football. Suddenly a surprise can appear from nowhere.'
