Girona asserted their La Liga title aspirations with a historic triumph over Barcelona, securing a 4-2 victory and claiming the top spot in the league table. Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Miguel Gutierrez, Valery Fernandez, and Cristhian Stuani propelled the visitors to their first-ever league win against their Catalan rivals.
Despite consolation goals from Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan for Barca, Girona's comprehensive performance sees them open a two-point lead over Real Madrid and establish a seven-point gap ahead of both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Ukraine's Dovbyk initiated Girona's success with his eighth goal of the season, expertly assisted by Viktor Tsyhankov in the 12th minute. While Lewandowski briefly equalized with a header from Raphinha's corner, Girona continued to pose a significant counter-attacking threat. Spain Under-21 left-back Gutierrez restored Girona's lead just before halftime, showcasing a dynamic run and a precise left-footed finish.
Fernandez extended the advantage in the 80th minute, capitalizing on Stuani's flick-on and overcoming Barca defender Jules Kounde. Although Gundogan's late goal briefly raised hopes for a home comeback, Stuani promptly extinguished them by tapping in Girona's fourth, culminating in a memorable night for the club that had never finished higher than 10th in its previous La Liga campaigns.
Girona's unexpected rise to the league's summit demonstrates their enduring quality and suggests they have the potential to sustain their title challenge. The convincing victory against Barcelona solidifies their position as a genuine contender for La Liga glory, setting the stage for an intriguing title race.
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