Girona 'phenomenon' unmasked

A point against Leganes - the team second to last in La Liga - was a result that disappointed Girona fans. The 1-1 draw in the away match against Municipal de Butarque in the early morning of April 25 only helped them temporarily end a streak of 4 consecutive losses, but was not enough to ease the fear of relegation.

Tough schedule and heavy pressure

Looking at the current rankings, it is hard to believe that this is Girona - the team that shook La Liga last season with its attractive playing style and impressive victories. Currently, coach Michel and his team are ranked 16th with 35 points, only 3 points above the dangerous 18th position held by Las Palmas.

"Everything happened so fast," said one Girona fan after the match. "Just a moment ago we were dreaming about the Champions League. Now we have to worry about our future in La Liga."

With five games left in the season, Girona's road to survival is expected to be tough. They will face Mallorca, Villarreal, Valladolid, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid.

With the exception of Valladolid, who have been officially relegated, the other four teams are all highly motivated. Mallorca, Sociedad and Villarreal are all vying for the European places, while Atletico Madrid are always a tough test for any team.

"We have to save ourselves," coach Michel stressed in a press conference after the match with Leganes. "Every remaining match is like a final. We need to fight until the last moment."

Without Artem Dovbyk, Girona lost their danger.

Girona's rapid decline comes not only from their loss of identity but also from the fact that their current squad is no longer as good as last season. In the 2023/24 season, they have excellent striker Artem Dovbyk with 24 goals in La Liga and young talent Savinho with 9 goals.

This season, the top scorer for the Catalan team is Christian Stuani with only 8 goals - a modest number for a team fighting to avoid relegation. Notably, the Uruguayan striker has turned 38 and is no longer able to maintain stable performance throughout the season.

Summer signings such as striker Abel Ruiz Ortega from Braga (8.5 million euros) and former Manchester United star Donny van de Beek have failed to live up to expectations. Abel Ruiz has only scored four goals, while Van de Beek has often been benched.

Unmasking a phenomenon

There is no shortage of fairy tales in modern football. But every miracle comes to an end - just sooner or later. For Girona, their decline has been too rapid, too rapid for anyone to have expected. Just a few months ago, Girona players were listening to the UEFA Champions League anthem. Now, they are in an unimaginable situation.

Once a team that both Barcelona and Real Madrid had to be wary of, Girona has now become easy prey for opponents. The beautiful attacking style is no longer there, replaced by lifeless performances and full of mistakes.

Joan Garcia, a Spanish football expert, said: "Girona have been 'unmasked'. Teams have found ways to counter their style of play, while Michel has been unable to find an effective plan B.

Can Stuani's brilliance save Girona?

The race to stay in La Liga this season is particularly fierce, with eight teams battling to avoid the remaining two relegation spots (behind Valladolid). Leganes, Las Palmas, Alaves, Girona, Valencia, Espanyol, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano - all are in doubt. If Girona are relegated, it would be one of the biggest shocks in modern La Liga history. A team that once dreamed of the Champions League, now faces the harsh reality of the Second Division.

"We still believe in staying up," Girona captain Stuani said. "We have overcome bigger challenges before. The important thing is to keep our spirits up and fight together until the end."

With five games remaining, Girona need at least six or seven more points to be assured of a place in La Liga next season. Can they do that? The answer will be revealed in the coming weeks, but it is clear that the road ahead for "last season's phenomenon" is not easy.

If Girona were to be relegated, it would be a regrettable tragedy. A team that once dominated La Liga, making everyone wary, was "unmasked" so quickly that it was unbelievable just 1 year later.

Source: https://znews.vn/hien-tuong-girona-bi-lot-mat-na-post1548637.html