Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Girona: Get to know LaLiga’s surprise package who lead Real Madrid and Barcelona

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 11 Dec 2023

61 Views

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?

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?
Girona are part owned by the City Football Group (CFG), who own Manchester City.

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?
Miguel Angel Sanchez Munoz, better known as Michel, led Rayo Vallecano to LaLiga in 2018 and repeated the feat two years later with another unfashionable club, Huesca.

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?

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?

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SoccerNews

Soccernews.com is news blog for soccer with comprehensive coverage of all the major leagues in Europe, as well as MLS in the United States. In addition we offer breaking news for transfers and transfer rumors, ticket sales, betting tips and offers, match previews, and in-depth editorials.

You can follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/soccernews.com or Twitter: @soccernewsfeed.

SHARE OR COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

WE RECOMMEND

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This field is required *

Join the conversation!

or Register

Live Scores

advertisement

Betting Guide Advertisement

advertisement

Become a Writer
More More
Top