Girona (foto: Getty Images)
The Catalan top-flight club has been a major surprise in this season’s Spanish La Liga, holding close to Real Madrid at the top of the table for a long time.
They are still in contention for a Champions League spot.
Girona has likely fallen out of the race for the La Liga title, trailing Real Madrid by 10 points and Barcelona by eight, while also having played one more game. However, they are enjoying a remarkable season and have officially secured their participation in European competitions for the next season. The Champions League is still within reach.
If Girona manages to collect at least nine points in the remaining six rounds of the league, they will qualify for the world's most elite competition.
There are also other scenarios for success in this regard. Girona is seven points ahead of Atletico, which is in seventh place, and ten ahead of Athletic Bilbao. However, the Madrid team could close the gap to four points as they have a game in hand.
This year, several individuals at Girona deserve mention, but perhaps the biggest surprise is Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk.
In the Spanish league, he has contributed 18 goals and five assists in 30 appearances, which is an impressive statistic. Last summer, Girona purchased him from Dnipro for less than 8 million euros. Today, they could undoubtedly sell him for a significantly higher compensation.