Brilliant minnows stormed Montjuïc with typical panache to leapfrog Real Madrid and give the title race a new dimension
Cristhian Stuani had a long way to run: up and over the advertising boards, across the vast, empty space between him and the Girona fans, beyond the Barcelona badge covering the void to the stand, somewhere in the distance. Way back there, at the top of Montjuïc, you really can’t see much but what little they could see was as good as it gets, and now the greatest icon of all was coming into view. A couple of minutes before, 3-1 up, the 350 or so supporters who had made the 99km bus journey south had been busy meeting every pass with an “olé” only for a late goal from Ilkay Gündogan and an even later chance for Robert Lewandowski to put the fear back into them, but now they could really let loose.
It had actually happened. The Uruguayan, 37, had just scored his fifth in seven days, and was heading for them, teammates following close behind. The clock on 94.34, his volley had won perhaps the best game of the season so far, making the score 4-2 and the victory secure. For the first time in their La Liga history, Girona had beaten Barcelona, the team most people in their town tended to support until now. Which may not be as dramatic as it sounds – although founded in 1930, their first division history is only three and a half years long – but which makes it even better; it also means they will get to try again.“I think we’re mathematically safe,” said the coach, Michel Sánchez.
Continue reading…Brilliant minnows stormed Montjuïc with typical panache to leapfrog Real Madrid and give the title race a new dimensionCristhian Stuani had a long way to run: up and over the advertising boards, across the vast, empty space between him and the Girona fans, beyond the Barcelona badge covering the void to the stand, somewhere in the distance. Way back there, at the top of Montjuïc, you really can’t see much but what little they could see was as good as it gets, and now the greatest icon of all was coming into view. A couple of minutes before, 3-1 up, the 350 or so supporters who had made the 99km bus journey south had been busy meeting every pass with an “olé” only for a late goal from Ilkay Gündogan and an even later chance for Robert Lewandowski to put the fear back into them, but now they could really let loose.It had actually happened. The Uruguayan, 37, had just scored his fifth in seven days, and was heading for them, teammates following close behind. The clock on 94.34, his volley had won perhaps the best game of the season so far, making the score 4-2 and the victory secure. For the first time in their La Liga history, Girona had beaten Barcelona, the team most people in their town tended to support until now. Which may not be as dramatic as it sounds – although founded in 1930, their first division history is only three and a half years long – but which makes it even better; it also means they will get to try again.“I think we’re mathematically safe,” said the coach, Michel Sánchez. Continue reading…
