In the 2023–2024 season, Girona delivered incredible results. Míchel Sánchez’s team finished third in La Liga and qualified for the Champions League. However, as expected, they were unable to maintain such a high pace, and the following season turned out to be disastrous. The team narrowly avoided relegation to the Segunda División and spent a long time this season in the relegation zone.
Even experienced analysts were not ready to confidently say that an accurate btts tips today bet would be a reliable prediction in Girona’s matches. But the last five games have shown that the team is literally rising from the ashes. Together with xGscore analysts, let’s try to take a closer look at the reasons behind this success — still local, but already noticeable — for the Catalan side.
Reasons for the Team’s Decline After a Successful Season
Girona are not a wealthy club. The transfer of Viktor Tsyhankov was the most expensive in the club’s history, yet he joined for only €5 million plus a sell-on clause. However, smart investments made it possible to sign quality players. After the successful season, the downturn occurred due to:
- the sale of key players;
- poor investment decisions;
- weak performances across all lines, from defense to attack.
After the successful campaign, several first-team players left the club. Aleix García moved to Bayer 04, Yan Couto to Borussia Dortmund, Artem Dovbyk to Roma, and Savinho to Manchester City. The players signed as replacements failed to perform at the same level. Only Bryan Gil showed a style of play similar to Savinho’s. Miovski and Abel Ruiz together scored fewer goals than Dovbyk did in the season when he won the Pichichi Trophy. It was also impossible to properly replace Yan Couto to support Tsyhankov on the attacking flank.
But the biggest loss was Aleix García. The team is still searching for a new link between defense and attack, and so far Míchel Sánchez has not found such a player. And when you add defensive failures and the presence of decent but aging players (such as Daley Blind), it becomes difficult to count on success.
How Girona Managed to Restore Their Position in La Liga
At the start of the season, Girona were the worst team in the league. Major defensive lapses and defeats against teams of similar potential led to the club still trying to repair its statistics. However, the last five matches show that the team has overcome its crisis.
Success was achieved thanks to:
- the signing of a quality striker;
- improved defensive play;
- the emergence of a leader and a positive team atmosphere.
In four matches in January 2026, the team earned as many points as they had collected in the entire 2025 part of the current season. This was largely due to the cooperation between Ukrainian attacking players Viktor Tsyhankov and Vanat. Both played together at Dynamo Kyiv and have excellent chemistry. Vanat is already the leader of the attack, and Girona have effectively struck gold for the second time with the signing of a Ukrainian forward.
Things are still not so positive in defense. Regular mistakes by the goalkeeper and central defenders continue to lead to defeats, such as the 0–3 loss to Atlético Madrid. However, after that, the team managed to keep clean sheets in two matches, which shows that they can compete against opponents of their own level.
Most importantly, the team now has a leader on the pitch who can guide his teammates. Many considered Viktor Tsyhankov to be that player after Stuani, but injuries plagued him during his first two years. Now he is the main driving force of the team, helping Girona rediscover their game. And Sánchez is once again celebrating victories on the touchline instead of worrying about being sacked.
Which Positions Need Reinforcement
Of course, there are positions in the team that require strengthening, first and foremost in defense. The goalkeeping position seems well staffed, but Gazzaniga regularly makes mistakes. Krapyvtsov is not yet ready for senior football, while Livaković is looking for a new club and refuses to take the field. A potential arrival of Ter Stegen could solve the issue by bringing in an experienced goalkeeper who is nearing the end of his career but could provide Girona with much-needed calm in the penalty area.
The club also needs to find a player capable of replacing Aleix García. Increasingly, rumors point to players from markets that Girona themselves have opened up for Spain. Former Dynamo Kyiv prospect Mykola Shaparenko has long been on their radar, and his contract with the Kyiv club is nearing its end. Who knows—perhaps the Ukrainian presence at the Catalan club will grow even stronger.
It would also be wise to think about signing a solid center-back. Krejčí’s loan move to Wolverhampton could help him become a leader of the back line in the future. Blind is not getting any younger and clearly needs a replacement. If these three positions are addressed, the team should be able to perform more consistently.
Conclusion
Of course, Girona are unlikely to reach the level of Spain’s top clubs this season. However, returning to the ranks of solid mid-table teams is well within their capabilities. And with smart reinforcements in key problem areas, they could cause plenty of trouble even for La Liga’s giants. Whether they will manage to do so remains unknown. But fans can follow their matches and build predictions together with xGscore analysts.
