Surprise LaLiga leaders Girona face Rayo Vallecano on Saturday looking to accomplish what giants Real Madrid could
not.
The Catalan minnows visit Rayo’s ramshackle Vallecas stadium, less than a week after Carlo Ancelotti’s side were held
to a goalless draw at the Santiago Bernabeu by their neighbours.
Girona have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points on Real Madrid, second, and seven
above Barcelona, third, before the traditional Spanish giants are in action.
Real Madrid host Valencia on Saturday night, while Barcelona, still reeling from their defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk in the
Champions League, welcome Alaves on Sunday.
Some are starting to wonder in Spain if Girona can repeat the miracle English club Leicester City pulled off in the
Premier League in 2016, when they astonishingly lifted the title.
Girona were promoted in 2022 and are in only their fourth ever season in Spain’s top flight.READ MORE
They have an advantage on some of the league’s other teams, because they form part of the City Football Group, the
UAE-based parent company of Manchester City, who bought the club in 2017.
However, at Girona, key figures including coach Michel Sanchez and sporting director Quique Carcel are keeping their
feet on the ground.
“Internally, we are very clear that what Leicester did is a very big feat and obviously these are very nice situations,” Carcel told AFP this week.
