IT has been nearly 20 years since a team other than Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid won LaLiga.
The three giants have dominated Spanish football ever since Valencia’s league triumph in the 2003/04 season.
Atletico have two titles to their name, with Real Madrid winning six and Barcelona landing ELEVEN.
But their stranglehold on LaLiga could finally be coming to an end.
That’s because there’s an unlikely club at the top of the table this season.
Catalan minnows Girona have won nine of their 11 matches so far, losing just once to Real Madrid.
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The club are owned by the City Football Group, who include Treble winners Man City among their list of 12 teams.
They are even run by Pep Guardiola’s chairman brother Pere.
And Girona are blowing their rivals away this season despite only gaining promotion to LaLiga last year.
Manager Michel, a former Rayo Vallecano and Spain U20 midfielder, has worked wonders since his appointment in 2021.
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Having led Rayo and Huesca out of the second tier, he guided Girona to Segunda Division glory on his first go.
The minnows have not looked back since, finishing a respectable tenth last term ahead of big names like Sevilla and Valencia.
But it’s this season that has fans and pundits taking real notice.
Girona, who play at the 14,000-seater Estadi Montilivi, are top of LaLiga and two points clear of nearest challengers Real.
They have scored more goals than anyone else this season, hitting the back of the net 31 times.
And they have the fifth-best defence too after shipping just 16 goals.
Indeed, the strikes are coming from all over the pitch, with Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk leading the way with seven goals and four assists.
Winger Savio has four goals and four assists so far, while ex-Man City midfielder Yangel Herrera has netted four times too.
And despite being 37 years old, veteran Uruguay forward Cristhian Stuani has found a new lease of life with four goal involvements.
Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind is also enjoying his time after a summer move, with ex-Premier League stars like Eric Garcia and Paulo Gazzaniga impressing too.
It’s seen Girona record impressive wins over the likes of Villarreal, Sevilla and Getafe.
Yet what makes their run even more impressive is the fact they train at a rented GOLF course.
Girona has leased two pitches for its first team at La Vinya sports complex, owned by PGA Golf de Caldas, with their other sides training at nearby Palau Towers.
The quirky arrangement has clearly not had a negative effect on Girona’s players and coaching staff.
And things could get even better for the club once work on a new mega training ground has been completed.
The £22million complex in the municipality of Vilablareix will play host to all of Girona’s teams, including the men’s and women’s first teams plus the academy.
Once finished, it will boast seven pitches and a further seven artificial fields.
A 16th century farmhouse located on the 22 hectares of land will become Girona’s new headquarters too.
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And the club will look to involve the local community as they make incredible inroads in the Spanish game.
But with construction currently being delayed by agricultural issues, Girona will continue to plan their stunning LaLiga title challenge from the putting green.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
