MADRID (Reuters) – With Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid struggling for consistency and dropping valuable points in recent weeks, lowly Girona have forged ahead and sit alone at the top of the LaLiga standings after a remarkable start to the campaign.
No club in Europe’s top five leagues has more points than Girona, who currently have 31 points, at this stage of the season. This is a surprising statistic for a team that has moved between the top-flight and second tier since Abu Dhabi’s City Football Group acquired 44 percent of the club in 2017.
The surprise package of the season so far, Girona has only suffered one defeat, a 3-0 loss at home to Real Madrid in late September, since they began with a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad. Last season, they finished 10th with 13 wins after returning to LaLiga but have already racked up 10 victories this campaign, including a 4-2 comeback win at Osasuna last weekend that propelled them to the top of the table.
Under coach Michel, who previously led Rayo Vallecano and Huesca back to the top flight in prior seasons, Girona has been impressing in LaLiga with an attacking style that leverages the talents of Brazilian wonderkids Savinho and Yan Couto, along with versatile Spanish midfielder Aleix Garcia.
As they get ready to face Rayo Vallecano in Saturday’s match, Michel is realistic about his team’s chances of challenging for the title and aims to finish in the top third of the table to secure a spot in next year’s European competitions of LaLiga.
“Our league is not against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico… I don’t dream of that league, but I do dream of Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Villarreal… Winning that league can take you to fourth and sixth. Now I do dream of that league,” Michel stated in a press conference after the Osasuna win.
“I dream of those positions, between fourth and sixth. I’ve seen a very determined team with a brutal mentality. We have 31 points, the goal of salvation (safety from relegation) is very close and we have to change that goal to go for the second one.” Trailing Girona by two points in second place, Real Madrid will try to rebound from the goalless draw against Rayo as they host struggling Valencia on Saturday.
Barcelona, who are in third place with 27 points, will host lowly Alaves on Sunday. Additionally, Atletico, sitting in fourth place with 25 points and a game in hand, will host Villarreal on Sunday.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Toby Davis)
