Girona are top of La Liga for the first time in history. But this is not chance

“We know this isn’t normal,” said Aleix García and yet, he insisted, nor was it chance. Either way, it was historic. At 8.20pm on 27 September 2023, the other García, Eric, headed in the goal that put their team into the lead against Villarreal, on course for another win, to carry them above Real Madrid, above Barcelona and above everyone else. This isn’t supposed to happen, but it had. On the long bus journey home, heading up the east coast in the dark, even the manager admitted he had scrolled through his phone and taken the screengrab that proved it. Pop to the kiosko on Thursday morning, if he could find one, and there it is to cut out and keep: Girona Futbol Club are top of the league.

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