Girona’s remarkable ascent to the top of La Liga didn’t start with a bang but a commendable draw, against Real Sociedad on the opening day. Still, it proved a steady foundation on which to breed a purple patch that few thought would last but soon became thrilling, title-winning form, leaving usual suspects Real Madrid and Barcelona with an unexpected challenger for the crown.
This century, only Atletico Madrid and Valencia (champions twice each) have beaten Barcelona and Real Madrid to the top prize. Meanwhile, Girona have generally found themselves two tiers lower – an irrelevance to the elite sides chasing glory. Before this surge, the
