In an extraordinary match over the weekend, Real Madrid secured their 36th La Liga championship, setting a new record. Their victory was cemented when Girona staged an incredible comeback to triumph over Barcelona with a 4-2 scoreline, thus establishing an unbridgeable lead for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad in the competition. Real Madrid’s splendid performance this term includes only a single loss, placing them a substantial 13 points ahead of Girona, who now occupy second place. Barcelona, on the other hand, has slipped to third spot with four games to go.
Equally notable about Girona’s victory over Barcelona was the securing of their maiden berth in the European circuit by qualifying for the forthcoming season’s Champions League. Substituted player Portu was pivotal in their victory, netting twice in a game that observed the underdogs outperform their Catalan compatriots.
The match transpired rapidly with Andreas Christiansen securing an early lead for Barcelona. Girona swiftly retaliated with a header from La Liga’s leading scorer Artem Dovbyk to level the game. Intriguingly, Barcelona retook the advantage with a penalty strike from Robert Lewandowski just prior to halftime.
Nonetheless, Girona turned the tables in the 65th minute when Portu equalised shortly after being brought on. Shortly afterwards, a Miguel Gutierrez rebound goal swung the lead in Girona’s favour. Finally, a spectacular volley from Portu in the 74th minute sealed Girona’s electrifying win.
DAZN captured an emotional interview with Portu, who was visibly moved by the significance of Girona’s triumph. Reflecting on his earlier time at the club during its struggle with relegation, he expressed joy and relief at having won back the support of the fans, among whom he had once felt a great sense of personal responsibility for the club’s past defeats.
As confirmed by Thomson Reuters 2024.