This is Girona’s first LaLiga campaign, a fact that you would be likely to miss given
that Pablo Machín’s side have spent the vast majority of their inaugural Primera campaign
sat safely in mid table.
Against the big sides they have held their own and pulled off some upsets, with their
system and organisation making them a tough nut to crack.
The Catalan side have avoided defeat against Atletico Madrid twice in LaLiga this season
and took three points from Real Madrid at Montilivi, with their compact, well-drilled
style ensuring that they can battle for a share of the spoils home or away.Girona use
three central defenders, with the likes of Bernardo Espinosa, Marc Muniesa, Jonas Ramalho,
Pedro Alcalá, Juanpe and David Timor all spending time in that three-man defensive
line over the course of the season so far.
While it allows for Machín’s side the security of having that extra centre back to cover,
limiting how stretched and exposed the heart of their defence could become with a four-man
line, it also supplies an extra option when playing out from the back.
Even when caught in possession in midfield, Girona are rarely completely exposed Pere
Pons and Alex Granell play as a flat central midfield two, with two wing backs offering
the majority of the width when Girona enjoy anything more than a 10-second spell of possession.
In attack, both Borja Garcia and Portu look to join the midfield’s efforts to their
lone striker, with arguable bargain of the season Cristhian Stuani deployed as a target
man.
Whether home or away, Girona deploy the same formation, with Machín only tending to tweak
how high and how aggressively his side try to press the opposition.
If a team like to play out from the back and into a deep-lying playmaker, Girona will certainly
be right on their case, harrying as a unit, with Bernardo and Pere Pons examples of two
players that enjoy stepping out from their positions to be proactive in cutting out passes.Given
that Girona use a three central defenders, as well as Borja Garcia and Portu in relatively
flexible roles in attack, guaranteeing width is key.
The LaLiga new boys do like to try and counter at pace, especially against a high opposition
line, but when they settle into a spell of possession, buying their wing backs time to
get up in support of the attack is key.
Without them, Stuani would become more isolated, with plenty more asked of Portu to use his
pace to get in touch with the lone Uruguayan.
Narrow sides, who set up with compact banks of players, are a big theme in LaLiga this
campaign, but having wing backs involved can stretch such a set up.
Alex Granell acts as a deep-lying playmaker, with his excellent left foot very useful in
setting up quick Girona break-aways, while Pere Pons offers plenty of grit, effort and
work rate to not only destroy play, but to be forward-thinking, positive and neat when
helping his team transition upfield at pace.
Johan Mojica has fought his way into favour at left wing back, with Pablo Maffeo and Aday
Benitez sharing the responsibilities on the opposite flank.
When Girona counter as vertically as they can, after sniffing out a chance to hurt an
exposed opponent, their wing backs aren’t so vital in an offensive sense.
When Machin’s men are asked to look after possession, control tempo and to slow things
down, however, their wing backs come up in support and are unafraid to drive to the byline
or beat their man.
By keeping their width, especially against four-man defences, they can stretch opponents
and give Portu and Borja Garcia the pockets of space in and around the box that they can
exploit.
Failing that, all of Girona’s wing-back options have plenty of practice in finding
the hulking presence of Stuani lurking in the penalty box.
Stuani is deployed as a lone striker for Girona, with Michael Olunga also getting some opportunities
after scoring a hat trick against Las Palmas.
After being forced to play out wide and work hard at Middlesbrough, Stuani is thriving
in a central role and is looking like one of the best pieces of business done last summer
in Spain.
Extremely physical and a real threat in the air, the Uruguayan is key to adding a focal
point to a side that look to play vertically and from back to front in as few passes as
possible when their opponent leaves gaps to be exploited.
When the ball transitions through midfield and into the wide areas, Stuani likes to pull
onto the far post and wait for the service to come his way.
It is there where he can rise well, sometimes unchecked, with the likes of Mojica and Aday
often pitching their deliveries high to give Stuani the chance to out jump or outmuscle
his marker.
When Portu has a chance to deliver from the right, too, there is only one place where
he will be looking to place the ball.
If Stuani has been the purchase of the season, there is a good chance that Girona forward
Portu is the revelation of the LaLiga campaign.
Armed with terrific pace, stamina and an endless desire to work hard for the cause, the former
Valencia youngster has adjusted from Segunda life to top-flight football with no teething
problems.
His speed is his biggest asset, with his acceleration while in possession close to being unrivalled
across the division.
Deployed on the right-hand side, Portu doesn’t play as a winger, but rather has the freedom
to react to the spaces that he can be played into on the counter attack.
Playing Portu over the top is a surefire way to get the opponent turned and worried, with
his speed enough to stretch even the more pacy defences in LaLiga.
Borja Garcia and Alex Granell have the quality to weight nice passes into dangerous areas,
but often through sheer bullishness and drive Portu can bring Girona 30 yards upfield by
himself.
His incredible stamina and athleticism mean that he can provide a constant outlet, with
the speedster one of the division’s worst nightmares for opposing defences this campaign.
Portu has already hit the goalscoring figures that he managed last season in Segunda, and
will be of huge interest during the summer transfer window after sparkling in one of
Spain’s best units under manager-of-the-year contender Pablo Machín.