La Liga surprise team Girona successfully fended off FC Barcelona’s “attack” and defended second place: In the home game against Osasuna, tension prevailed until the final sequence. But then came high-flyer Savio
62 points after 28 games – that is Girona’s impressive record at the moment. This season’s surprise team is impressing with its performances. It’s hard to imagine where the Catalans would be if they hadn’t had a few lapses in recent weeks.
The statistics also speak volumes: every team with 62 points in La Liga after 28 games has ended up as champions – the last time Real Madrid achieved this was in the 2007/08 season.
This season, however, the leaders from the capital are unlikely to be knocked off the throne. Bellingham & Co. have already collected 66 points in 27 games and are also heavy favorites in their 28th league appearance against Vigo on Sunday . Girona annoyed the record champions for a long time – apart from the direct comparisons (0:3, 0:4) – before things went sour recently with just two wins from six games.
Typical Girona goal as a can opener
On Saturday evening, however, Girona found the right answer to the unnecessary 1-0 defeat in Mallorca. The Champions League contenders dominated the visitors right from the start – and punished them after just 13 minutes: Tsygankov spun up at lightning speed in front of the penalty area and passed through to Portu, who finished flat into the bottom left-hand corner.
It was a typical Girona goal: for the fourth time this season, a goal was preceded by at least 20 own passes. Not even the “chasers” in this category – Real and Las Palmas (2 each) – can keep up with that
However, Girona then lacked the necessary coolness. Osasuna rarely ventured out of their shell and had enough to do with defending anyway. As a result, the game remained tense until the final sequence before a brilliant combination sealed the deal. Girona moved the ball from right to left again before the initiating Aleix Garcia burst through and laid the ball into Savio’s path in the penalty area with a back heel – and the Brazilian finished with the outside of his foot into the far corner (86′).
The 19-year-old, who has eight goals and seven assists in 28 league games, was celebrated – the only question is how long the fans will be able to hold on. Savio is already being linked with “sister club” Manchester City – both managed by the City Football Group.
