Despite Girona’s immaculate run thus far, many fans and pundits alike were sceptical of the club’s title credentials since they just rose from La Liga 2 two seasons ago. However, with their dominant tactical display against the reigning champions today, Girona is on everybody’s lips as they currently top La Liga with a 2-point cushion over 2nd place Real Madrid. Prior to this table-topping encounter, Girona had not lost in nine successive games after Real Madrid put on a clinic at their home backyard. On the other hand, Barca was less convincing with their narrow wins but were in winning form themselves thanks to João Félix’s goal against Atlético de Madrid. Thus, what happened?
Girona Outfought and Outthought the Defending Champions
As mentioned in the heading, Girona’s players outplayed Barca on the pitch, and Girona’s manager, Míchel, outsmarted Xavi off the pitch. Taking charge of his team for the 100th time this match, Míchel outthought Xavi’s team across the full 90 minutes to earn Girona their first win over the Catalan Giants in seven attempts.
For context, Girona set up a perfect game plan to neutralise Barcelona’s threat by adopting a rigid defensive structure that proved difficult to penetrate, not allowing Barca’s world-class midfielders to pick up pockets between the lines. In addition, Míchel utilises his wingers, Sávio and Tsyhankov, by playing them more centrally to form a midfield that fills Barça’s engine room. When Girona was in attacking transition, the wingers quickly moved wide to accommodate the wing-backs pushing inside.
This tactic proved successful in just 12 minutes, as Tsyhankov got on the end of a long ball and squared it to his fellow Ukranian Artem Dovbyk to give the visitors the lead. While Robert Lewandowski replied just seven minutes later with a trademark header, Girona regained their lead heading into half-time after wing-back Miguel Gutiérrez smashed home a delightful strike past Peña after wrongfooting Jules Koundé.
Easy win against our dogs😉 pic.twitter.com/qwRSfQ8u2y
— Girona FC (@GiranoFC) December 10, 2023
Girona Won Both Half’s 2-1 Against Barcelona
The second half unfolded more of the same as the first half, with Barcelona threatening Girona’s Goal with attempts from range, particularly from Frenkie De Jong. With the Argentinian Paulo Gazzaniga standing firm, Barca pushed more men forward and pressed the visitors from playing out from their own half.
However, it backfired in the 80th minute as Gazzaniga went long in seeking the attackers, and they did not let their backline down. Stuani and Valery Fernández both showed more hunger than their counterparts as the Uruguayan won the first nod ahead of Araujo before the Spaniard rolled the ball past the half-committed Koundé with some luck and slotted it past Peña for their third.
İlkay Gündoğan gave the defending champions hope in the second minute of stoppage time with a brilliant turn and strike. Unfortunately, it quickly extinguished three minutes later as Cristhian Stuani capitalised on the lack of defensive players by nodding in Sávio pinpoint cross at the back post. Once again, the goal started from the wing as Barca had little answers to Míchel tactical masterclass, which the players employed to a tee. With this win, Girona are now top of La Liga at the end of matchday 16, while the Catalans Giants sit in fourth, seven points off the pace.
Manager Míchel Declared His Players Have Made History After Securing 41 Points in La Liga
After securing the threshold points typically needed to avoid relegation, Manager Míchel claimed his team had made history. “We are saved, with 41 points. We have reached the figure before. We have made history. It is a game to remember. It has been a great game. Any fan will have seen two teams that had the intention of winning.”
Manager Míchel also highlighted how his team have benefited the Spanish League. “We have done a great favour to La Liga, playing face-to-face and hurting the rival. We have defended at some moments, but it is to be happy. I’m very happy. We have made Barça run backwards. We did it. And if we do it with these players, we can do it with anyone. It is entering another dimension.:
As for their title chances, Míchel remained humble and will take it game by game. “I’m happy with the performance. I don’t know if we are capable of holding up to the level of Barca, Real and Atlético throughout the season, but the performance makes me happy. The players are making history. Today, football fans are a little bit of Girona. Many people will say these guys play football well. I don’t know if we can win La Liga. It is not our goal. It is the pressure from Barca, I have told Xavi.”
Michel (Girona coach): “Winning the league is not the goal. I don’t know if we can win it.” pic.twitter.com/D4TeG7uTKC
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) December 10, 2023
Can Girona Actually Do a Leicester 2015-16 Title Run?
While half a season still remains, Girona has proven they are not a team that actual title contenders such as Barca, Real and Atlético can overlook and underestimate. They have only dropped seven points from a maximum of 48 thus far, and with no midweek competition to split their focus, Girona has all the chances to capitalise on others’ slip-ups.
Although it is hard not to draw comparisons between Girona 23/24 and Leicester 15/16, the story of coming up from the second division, placing midtable in the next and winning the title in their second season at the top flight is just too coincidental to ignore. Well, we are all for it, as who doesn’t like an underdog story?
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Girona this season pic.twitter.com/aZXt8eZAec
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) December 10, 2023
