Page 55 - Soccer360 Issue 104

BIG WINTER MATCHES
DECEMBER 16
Athletic Club v Altetico Madrid
DECEMBER 17
Real Sociedad v Real Betis
JANUARY 3
Girona v Atletico Madrid
JANUARY 14
Ahtletic Club v Real Sociedad (Basque Derby)
JANUARY 21
Real Betis v Barcelona
FEBRUARY 4
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (Madrid Derby)
Girona v Real Sociedad
FEBRUARY 11
Real Madrid v Girona
FEBRUARY 18
Athletic Club v Girona
MARCH 3
Athletic Club v Barcelona
Atletico Madrid v Real Betis
MARCH 17
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona
MARCH 31
Girona v Real Betis
FC Barcelona’s defender Joao Cancelo (L) celebrates with teammate Gavi (R) after scoring the 3-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta Vigo
many of his more experienced teammates at the 2022 World Cup, underlining his talent with a wonderful goal against Costa Rica.
It is undeniable that Gavi is viewed as a major part of Barcelona’s long-term success. So much so
that the club have put a €1bn release clause in his contract.
ALEJANDRO BALDE
Barca’s young left back Alejandro Balde hit the ground running after impressing manager Xavi in the summer of 2021 during pre-season. Despite starting that campaign as backup to Jordi Alba, Balde showed enough ability and attitude in
his limited appearances to show Xavi that he is rightful long-term successor and found himself trusted throughout the 2022-23 La Liga season. Xavi was rewarded for that faith as Balde made 44 appearances, scoring once and assisting seven goals, all from the full-back position.
An injury to Valencia’s José Gayà two days before the start of the World Cup in Qatar earned Balde a call-up to the national team and he replaced friend and rival Alba in the 64th minute of Spain’s 7-0 win over Costa Rica in the their opening group stage match to make his debut.
Still only 20 years old, Balde has been with Barcelona since 2011 so his progression has been
Below: Alejandro Balde is set to make the left- back position his own
“ALEJANDRO BALDE HAS SHOWN THAT HE IS THE LONG-TERM SUCCESSOR TO JORDI ALBA AT LEFT-BACK”
SOCCER360 53
Girona celebrates
GENIUS GIRONA
GIRONA HAVE BEEN THE STORY OF THE LA LIGA SEASON SO FAR, COMPETING WITH THE LIKES OF BARCELONA AND REAL MADRID AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE.
IAN WATERHOUSE CASTS AN EYE OVER THEIR UNEXPECTED SUCCESS.
Cast your mind back to the summer of 2005. American Idol was in its fourth season, a heatwave hit central Canada and Live 8 was about to take centre stage across the world. However, over in Spain, things were not looking quite so hot for Catalan minnows Girona. Relegated from Spain’s third tier, The White and Reds were gearing up for a campaign in Spanish football’s fourth division.
Fast forward 18 years and the club who are only participating in their fourth ever top-flight campaign have made it to the summit of La Liga. It is a dramatic rise through the Spanish footballing ranks that has the soccer romantics gushing with praise. But how did they do
it? And do they really deserve the heroic underdog tag? The story really starts in 2008 after the club spent a majority of its existence in Spain’s third and fourth tiers. In June of that year, Girona defeated Ceuta 1-0 in the play-offs to earn their spot back in Segunda Division
for the first time in nearly 50 years. Two years later, Girona were taken over by a group of local businessmen and a period of stabilisation ensued. At the end of the 2016-17 season the club finished runners-up to Levante and for the first time in their history made it to La Liga. A month after earning promotion, City Football Group – the same group that owns Manchester City and New York City FC - bought a 44.3% stake in Girona. Subsequently, their investment in facilities, the squad and bringing in head coach Michel have inspired the club and helped them attract established stars such as Daley Blind and Cristhian Stuani. As with everything in football money talks, but Girona have done
it the right way without splashing the cash. No more can we call Girona minnows as they look set to become part of the La Liga furniture. That said, few could have anticipated such
an exceptional start to 2023-24. Having
barely dropped any points in that time and also outscored the might of Real Madrid and Barcelona, they are proving themselves a
force to be reckoned with and must be taken seriously. With emerging stars including Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk, they’ve set the perfect platform to at least secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.