GIRONA
Can Girona really win the 2023-24 LaLiga title?
Michel’s side are joint leaders at the top of the table boasting the same 48 points as Real Madrid. But can the Catalan side really win the title?
What Girona FC have achieved in the 2023-24 LaLiga season to date has generated global headlines with Michel’s side level with Real Madrid at the top of the table with both teams having accrued 48 points.
The Catalan side have been playing some of the most attractive and eye-catching football in the top flight and on many occasions have managed to dig deep as we saw in the game against Atlético Madrid where they bagged an injury time winner as part of a thrilling 4-3 win. Head coach Míchel commented that his team have learned how to suffer, endure adversity and wait for their moment to win. Iván Martín’s winner created scenes of delirium at Montilivi and for the first time all season, people are waking up to the fact that this is not just a flash in the pan and, whisper it ... Girona could go on to win the title.
On paper, this assertion holds water despite a full round of fixtures yet to be played but at present it is impossible to see a crack or fragility in the team that plays without a semblance of fear. Wednesday’s game against Atletico was pure Girona with a team playing with rhythm, quality, intensity and many goals.
Girona are the only side, so far able to keep up with Ancelotti’s side but they have bagged more goals than any other side in LaLiga (46 goals) with eight of these coming against Barcelona and Atlético.
The only team capable of beating the Costa Brava side this season was Real Madrid (0-3) and the home game was the only time this campaign that the team showed weakness in their run that has seen 15 league wind and three draws.
Girona’s projected points total for the end of the season is 96. Barcelona was champion last season with 88 and coach Míchel already acknowledged that his team would at least need to surpass 90 points.
Never before in the history of Spanish football has a so-called ‘small’ team (Girona have only been in the top flight for four seasons in the club’s entire history) been able to finish the first round of a League championship with 48 points and as things stand, Míchel’s team is ticking as competently as an expensive Swiss timepiece with a team working perfectly in unison.