35-time Spanish top-flight football champions Real Madrid were forced to play out a 1-1 stalemate against Rayo Vallecano yesterday, and that draw revived Girona FC’s Spanish La Liga title hopes, as they were set to be hosted by Athletic Club at San Mamés as the final game of Matchday 25 of the 2023/2024 La Liga Season. However, the series of events that unfolded during the Athletic Club-Girona FC game did not go well for the visitors, since the host came out on top with a 3-2 score line, causing Míchel’s side’s La Liga title hopes to suffer a huge dip with only 13 league games remaining this season.
Girona FC Could Not Catch a Break Against Athletic Club
Several incidents that turned out lately have prompted the La Liga title hopes in 2023/2024 to take multiple shifts, namely Los Blancos demolished Girona FC 4-0 at Santiago Bernabéu, and Carlo Ancelotti’s men’s draw against Rayo Vallecano in their following league encounter. These games saw Real Madrid having a 6-point lead over second-placed Girona FC in the league table, and a victory for the latter in their visit to Athletic Club would see them reduce the gap to only 3 points.
Nevertheless, Athletic Club decide to make life tough for their visitors to San Mamés, breaking the deadlock within the opening couple of minutes of the game. Aleix García’s clearance at his own half was poor and got intercepted by Alejandro Berenguer Remiro, who then took time to work out a space to have a go at the goalkeeper, which he did by firing a shot into the back of the net, beating Paulo Gazzaniga during the process.
Girona FC head coach Míchel’s half-time team talk looked to have worked its magic when Ukrainian attacker Viktor Tsyhankov levelled things up for the visitors, following his conversion into the goal off a left-flank cross to inside the 6-yard box by Iván Martín for his fifth goal in 24 appearances in all competitions this year, but Athletic Club responded with another two goals this time around, causing the visitors’ La Liga title hopes to take a blow.
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Athletic Club Aim to Reach Top Four After Girona FC Triumph
Remiro was again the guy who gave Athletic Club the lead, when his teammate Gorka Guruzeta courageously dispossessed his opponent around the right wing of the field, and finding Remiro with a ground delivery. The 28-year-old attacker had no problem slotting home another goal with his subsequent effort. The icing on the cake for the home side arrived not long after their second of the evening, thanks to Iñaki Williams. The Ghana international was present when a long ball by the backline was fed to him, and since no Girona FC players were able to clear the ball away, Williams charged towards the goal and had his shot brushed off the far post before crossing the line.
The game has been won by Athletic Club at the hour mark, and not even a 75th-minute goal from Girona FC could give a chance to them in reviving their La Liga title hopes. The culprit of giving the first goal of the game to Athletic Club, García, whipped in a cross off a corner set piece at the right flank. The ball then skipped everyone but another García (Eric), and the centre-back’s free header almost gave Girona FC their La Liga title hopes back. The game between Athletic Club and Girona FC would end as the hosts securing all 3 points on Matchday 25 of the 2023/2024 Spanish La Liga Season after the full 90 minutes plus added time.
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❗La Liga standings following Girona’s defeat against Athletic Club. Real Madrid go 6 points clear. pic.twitter.com/SoYHje850X
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) February 19, 2024
La Liga Title Hopes Look Slim After Athletic Club Defeat
Earlier in the year, all eyes were on Girona FC to replicate Leicester City’s fairytale run to win the English Premier League title back in the 2015/2016 Season at the Spanish top-flight football in 2023/2024 with their incredible journey to the summit of the league table, but their second consecutive league defeat (4-0 to Real Madrid and 3-2 to Athletic Club) almost meant their La Liga title hopes are all but over already despite the number of games left in the current season (13 matches to go).
Girona FC are currently 6 points and an inferior goal difference of 15 adrift first-placed Los Blancos, meaning if they wish to reignite their Spanish La Liga title hopes, not only do they need to get back to winning ways and consistently bagging 3 points upon the return, but they must also wish Ancelotti’s side embark onto a poor run of form in the remaining Matchdays of the 2023/2024 Spanish top-flight football season.
Which team do you think will turn their La Liga title hopes into a reality at the end of the current season? Let us know your thoughts down in the comment section below right away! Remember to stay tuned to OtherLeague.com for the latest news happening in the Spanish La Liga as well as other football and sports competitions around the world.
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