Girona: Get to know LaLiga’s surprise package who lead Real Madrid and Barcelona
December 11, 2023 01:28 MYT
Girona are continuing to upset the big guns in Spain’s top flight.
Sunday’s stunning 4-2 win at Barcelona means Real Madrid, city rivals Atletico, Barca and Real Sociedad – all leaders of their Champions League groups – continue to trail in the wake of the team from Catalonia.
Here, the PA news agency provides some detail about Los Blanquivermells, who have lost just once in 16 matches this season and top the table by two points.
– Do they have trophy-winning pedigree?
How are you feeling this morning, Girona FC fans? pic.twitter.com/aZYjuCnXRa
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) December 11, 2023
No, unless you count lower league titles and regional cups.
This is only Girona’s fourth campaign in Spain’s top flight, with last season’s 10th-placed finish equalling their previous best in 2013.
Who are the club owned by?
CFG bought a 44.3 per cent stake in the club in 2017 with the Girona Football Group and now own 47 per cent.
Have they spent much money?
Not a significant amount. Ukraine forward Artem Dovbyk, whose opener in Sunday’s win at Barca was his seventh goal in just 10 LaLiga matches, reportedly became the club’s record signing when he joined from Dnipro for around £7million in August.
Who is their manager?
As a player, he was a midfielder who played more than 180 games in LaLiga, most of them with Rayo.
Do they have any recognisable players?
Fresita pic.twitter.com/rTo6wQLqTO
— Girona FC (@GironaFC) December 10, 2023
Considering the ownership, a Manchester City link is not unexpected.
Defender Eric Garcia and midfielder Aleix Garcia played for the defending champions, while Brazilian Yan Couto – in his third stint on loan with Girona – is a City defender.
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga and ex-Manchester United defender Daley Blind are also regulars in the team.
And what about their captain?
Ni Suárez, ni Cavani, CRISTHIAN STUANI pic.twitter.com/SdvqPF3UTH
— Girona FC (@GironaFC) December 10, 2023
Cristhian Stuani, now 37 and once of Middlesbrough, continues to catch the eye.
The Uruguayan international’s double in the closing stages of their last home match, against Valencia, turned defeat into another victory – their 12th in 15th games – and had most of the 13,343 fans at Estadi Montilivi continuing to dream of a top-four finish.