Girona: La Liga’s Shock Title Contender

Nestled in the heart of the northeastern Catalonia region in Spain lies the beautiful city of Girona, marked by medieval architecture and stunning views of the River Onyar. However, in recent years, the city has begun to appear in the spotlight for a new reason: its soccer club, Girona FC.

Historically, Girona has been a relatively small Spanish soccer club, with only a few Segunda Division titles and a Supercopa De Catalunya in their arsenal. After being promoted to La Liga in 2022, Girona achieved a solid 10th-place finish last season. This season, the majority of La Liga bookmakers anticipated a mid-table outcome for the club. However, it’s evident that the team has exceeded expectations: as of November 29, they hold second place, tied on points with Real Madrid.

Girona FC, founded in 1930, plays at the grand Estadi Montilivi and is one of the biggest clubs in the Catalan region. In their 87-year history, the club has bounced between the second and third Spanish divisions. However, after finishing second to Legante in the Segunda Division in 2017, they were promoted to La Liga for the first time. However, since then, Girona was relegated following two seasons in the league but was promoted again in the 2021-2022 season.

This season, Girona FC has been unstoppable, boasting a magnificent record of 11 wins, two draws, and one loss. The team has also won six games in a row in all competitions, with their most recent win being a 1-2 away game at mid-table Rayo Vallecano. However, on November 29, Girona was unable to break the strong defense of fifth-place Athletic Club, resulting in a 1-1 draw at home. That outcome then allowed Real Madrid to surpass them in the table. Though Girona’s defense might not be the strongest in La Liga, their offense stands out the most, having scored 31 goals in the league—surpassing teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid. Their strong attack and mediocre defense are evident in almost all of their games, like their 2-4 away win at Osasuna, 5-2 home win against Almería, and 5-3 home win against Mallorca. The bulk of their goals have come from Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk, who has scored an impressive seven goals so far this season for the club. Dovbyk arrived at the club after a three-year spell at Ukrainian club Dnipro-1, scoring a total of 44 goals. Girona has also been aided by midfielder Borja Garcia and defenders Bernardo Espinosa and Eric García, who have all dramatically helped the team maintain their form. 

Girona suffered their sole defeat at the hands of former runners-up, Real Madrid, in a 0-3 loss at home. However, since then, Girona has been on fire, winning five out of six of their La Liga matches, and their Copa del Rey first-round game against San Roque de Lepe. With all of their current success, people are beginning to ask the question: can Girona actually win La Liga?

Many dark horses arise in Europe’s top soccer leagues, but none have been as unstoppable as Girona. As time progresses, and larger clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona potentially improve their performance, another question arises: can Girona maintain their standing? Girona also has a flurry of tough fixtures coming up: Valencia (H) on December 2, Real Betis (A) on December 21, and most importantly, their fierce rivals, Barcelona (A) on December 10. If Girona can secure victories in these games, the team will start to see the title within their reach, with the possibility of achieving a symbolic accomplishment not only for the club and the city but also for dark horses far and wide.

So, could Girona contend for the title? Even achieving a Champions League finish would be remarkably impressive for them. But as the season unfolds, one thing is certain: Girona is sure to pose a challenge to the title aspirations of football giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid, potentially making a lasting impact on La Liga for decades to come.