Girona’s remarkable campaign has already seen them triumph over Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, scoring four goals in each encounter. Should they defeat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu this Saturday (live stream at 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN+), the resounding echoes of two words will reverberate across European football: Leicester City.
The unexpected Premier League champions of 2015-16 serve as the beacon for smaller teams challenging the established elite. In LaLiga, a realm typically dominated by Madrid, Barça, and occasionally Atlético in recent years, Girona inches closer to a “Leicester-esque” feat with every hard-earned point.
Míchel’s squad was anticipated to fade after Madrid halted their seven-game unbeaten streak in September. However, they have not tasted defeat in 15 league matches since. Doubts persisted when they faced Barcelona in December, only for them to triumph 4-2. The naysayers expected their bubble to burst against Atlético in January, but Girona emerged victorious with a 4-3 scoreline.
Girona’s resilience is undeniable. They have suffered only one loss in 23 LaLiga fixtures this season, amassing 56 points—just two shy of table-toppers Madrid. A victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s side this weekend would propel them to the summit with 14 games left to play.
This potential achievement is extraordinary for a team operating with the seventh-lowest spending cap in LaLiga, despite the backing of the City Football Group (CFG). Their record signing, Artem Dovbyk, cost a mere €7.5 million compared to Madrid’s €100 million splurge on Jude Bellingham. Nevertheless, Dovbyk and Bellingham lead the league’s scoring charts with 14 goals apiece.
Despite their modest budget, Girona plays an exhilarating brand of football that belies their financial constraints. They lead LaLiga in goals scored with 52, maintain over 56% possession per game, and exhibit relentless pressing. Valencia striker Hugo Duro lauded their suffocating style, acknowledging their rightful place atop the league standings.
While Girona has been impressive, they are not perched at the pinnacle currently; that honor belongs to this weekend’s adversaries, Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are determined to prevent a Leicester-like fairy tale from unfolding in Spain.
The odds of Leicester clinching the Premier League title at the onset of the 2015-16 season were a staggering 5,000-1. This historic triumph has since prompted bookmakers to exercise caution with underdogs in Europe’s top leagues. Girona commenced the season as a 1,000-1 long shot, a testament to their underdog status.
As Girona’s odds plummet ahead of the Madrid clash, parallels with Leicester become more apparent. Just as Kanté, Mahrez, and Vardy rose to stardom at Leicester, household names are emerging at Girona. Savio, the dynamic Brazilian winger on loan from Troyes within the CFG, could follow Mahrez’s path to Manchester City, as per reports from ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
In the spirit of Leicester’s miraculous journey, Girona aims to script its own tale of triumph against the odds.
