Strap up your average football fan to a heart-rate monitor, and not many will show you a spike if you mention ‘Girona’ to them. Keep that monitor in operation, then send you fan up to the top of the tallest tower of the dizzying heights of the Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou, you’ll probably see some of that excitement reflected on the heart monitor.
However the fact of the matter is, there are few better places to watch football this season than the tiny outpost of Montilivi in heart of Northern Catalonia. Girona have been one of the most entertaining sides in La Liga, playing a flowing and ambitious style of football, at times careless too, that has been making both relegation rivals and title contenders sweat all season.
Promoted via the play-off system last season, there is no inferiority complex with Girona. While naturally they will see more or less of the ball depending on the opponent, the common theme is the desire to find ways to hurt their foes, and the faith in their own ability to play through other sides.
Only three other La Liga teams have scored more than Girona’s 40 league goals so far, being the top three, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. The 41 they have conceded is a number only exceeded by four other teams, and when it comes to goals per game overall, the closest contender to their 3.12 goals per game is Almeria with 2.89. No team is better value for money than Girona.
Located less than an hour north of Barcelona by train, companies like GO Sport Travel can arrange trips to games in Spain. An old Roman city, Girona mixes great architecture with a tranquil atmosphere, and lies a short hop from the glorious water of the Costa Brava.
Back at Montilivi, in Aleix Garcia, they possess one of the most aesthetically pleasing and creative midfielders in the division. Cristhian Stuani is a local hero, after remaining with the club for several years in Segunda to see them back up, the 34-year-old provides a lovable fan favourite.
Youngsters like Rodrigo Riquelme on loan from Atletico Madrid, Arnau Martinez and Miguel Gutierrez are some of the most exciting in Spanish football. And that’s without mentioning star recruit Viktor Tsygankov. The Ukrainian international arrived from Dynamo Kiev in January, and has three goals and three assists in his last five games, adding a new dimension to their game from the right wing.
While it might not be the most heralded of names, Girona are the side which comes closest to guaranteeing fun in Spain this season. Michel Sanchez is earning his team results, doing so with style, and the it is a breath of fresh air for the entire division.
