Girona News and Analysis

LaLiga Takes: Jude Bellingham’s best role, Barca’s best player, what ails Girona

22Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

LaLiga Takes: Jude Bellingham’s best role, Barca’s best player, what ails Girona

What is Jude Bellingham's best role in the 2024/25 Real Madrid lineup after Kylian Mbappe's transfer created positive stress for Carlo Ancelotti? Who is Barcelona's best player of the 2024/25 La Liga season thus far? And who can be Girona's new star after they lost Savinho and Artem Dovbyk? Here are key takeaways from around the world of La Liga after a goal-fest of a weekend in the Spanish top flight. Girona have no more star power Girona had already agreed to sell their best player, Savinho, to more powerful partner club Manchester City, and then later in the summer transfer window, they waved goodbye to the top goal-scorer in La Liga, Artem Dovbyk. Although Girona brought in La Liga veterans Arnaut Danjuma and Bryan Gil on the wings as loan acquisitions, their only striker signi...

2024/25 Champions League Predictions for Matchday 2

30Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Champions League, Features

2024/25 Champions League Predictions for Matchday 2

Arsenal vs. PSG PSG don't feel like a legitimate Champions League threat in an era without Kylian Mbappe, who seemed to be the only reason why the Parisians were threats to reach the semifinals after Neymar was fully washed on the beach like a sullen hermit crab without a shell. Joao Neves gives PSG reason for optimism, but when your standout attacking player is Ousmane Dembele heading into the year 2025, you don't really stand much of a chance against a Premier League title contender. Arsenal have their own problems after a surprisingly complacent summer transfer window from an attacking perspective, but, then again, you don't need much more than Bukayo Saka and the Champions League version of Gabriel Jesus to dismantle PSG's defense. Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 PSG Aston Villa vs....

LaLiga Predictions: Barcelona vs. Athletic Club; Real Madrid vs. Valladolid; Atletico Madrid vs. Girona

22Aug

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

LaLiga Predictions: Barcelona vs. Athletic Club; Real Madrid vs. Valladolid; Atletico Madrid vs. Girona

Will Girona or Atletico Madrid gain a key advantage in their bid to spoil Real Madrid's title defense? Can Real Madrid themselves get back on track against Real Valladolid after a poor showing against another underdog LaLiga side last week in Mallorca? And will Barcelona register another big win, taking down the man who snubbed them this summer, Nico Williams and his Athletic Club teammates? Here are predictions for this weekend's LaLiga fixtures. Atletico Madrid vs. Girona Neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona will have the biggest game of the weekend, as that contest will be fought on Sunday night to close the weekend between possible title contenders Atletico Madrid and Girona. Atletico Madrid impressed in the 2022/23 season and were champions two years prior to that, while Girona w...

Ranking the 10 best dribblers in world football right now in 2024

23Apr

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Champions League, Features

Ranking the 10 best dribblers in world football right now in 2024

Few player profiles captivating the world football audience's attention more than fleet-footed dribblers. Whether they are explosive progressors who eat up space before putting defenders on skates or playmakers who subtly weave their magic to carve up an entire defense, those superstars who can create something out of nothing but their own genius and athletic ability are more coveted an anyone. That holds true for managers, too. Pep Guardiola has become infatuated with elite dribblers, and a couple of these recent additions will show up on this list of the best dribblers in world football today. Other managers feel the same, as Carlo Ancelotti, for example, has always had a soft spot for flair dribblers like current superstars Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior. (Spoiler: They will sho...

2023/24 LaLiga Team of the Season dominated by Real Madrid after 32 Matchdays

22Apr

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

2023/24 LaLiga Team of the Season dominated by Real Madrid after 32 Matchdays

After 32 Matchdays, Real Madrid sit first in LaLiga by a margin of 11 points over historic rivals Barcelona and 13 points over upstarts Girona, who were once neck-and-neck with the Merengues at the start of the season. But Real Madrid blew Girona out in both of their head-to-head meetings. Now, they are fresh off a last-gasp Clasico triumph over Barcelona, courtesy of yet another heroic performance from Jude Bellingham to lift Real to victory. Bellingham, the club's blockbuster 100 million euro signing, is unsurprisingly a member of the 2023/24 LaLiga Team of the Season. But which other Real Madrid standouts join him? Which underrated stars crack the list? Here is an updated 2023/24 LaLiga Team of the Season after 32 Matchdays. GK Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid No goalkeeper in LaLig...

LaLiga Player Rankings: Griezmann tops Real Madrid stars, Barça’s midfield shines, all hail Girona

27Nov

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

LaLiga Player Rankings: Griezmann tops Real Madrid stars, Barça’s midfield shines, all hail Girona

As November begins to draw to a close and the halfway point of the 2023/24 LaLiga season creeps up on us, it's time to take stock of the best performances of the campaign thus far, specifically, the individuals contributing to a season that has somehow been even more thrilling than last year's unpredictable campaign. Though the Premier League continues to draw the most eyeballs - and money - Spanish football has returned to the top in terms of excitement and quality of play on the pitch. There's a tight title race, a captivating top-four race, and intriguing relegation battle, and a host of mid-table teams worth rooting. Who are the best individuals in LaLiga right now? Let's rank the top 10, basing it on their overall quality - not just performances in the current season. 10. Br...

The 10 biggest breakout stars in LaLiga: Girona lead the way, Valencia with two, Barça best rivals

26Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

The 10 biggest breakout stars in LaLiga: Girona lead the way, Valencia with two, Barça best rivals

LaLiga has been home to some of world football's most exciting breakout stars since the start of the 2022/23 season. Many of those players are getting some more mainstream credit, such as Gavi and other Barcelona standouts, but there are many more who remain criminally underrated. The 2023/24 season is bringing the world some more gems, so, to honor them, let's take a look at the 10 biggest breakout stars of the current Spanish top-flight campaign thus far. Girona LW Sávio The list has to start with Sávio. Just as Aleix García was THE breakout story in LaLiga last season, another Girona star has captured the spotlight on the left wing. Sávio is only 19 years old and already one of the best players in the league, if his performances in 2023/24 continue. And there is no reason to believ...

The 10 best young players in LaLiga this season: Gavi, Kubo shine alongside Real Madrid duo

23Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

The 10 best young players in LaLiga this season: Gavi, Kubo shine alongside Real Madrid duo

Who are the best young players in LaLiga right now in the 2023/24 season? We analyze the stars from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and even Granada. LaLiga needs to receive more recognition for being loaded with great young footballers. The Spanish top flight has quietly resumed its place as the most entertaining league in the world - a distinction it lost for a few seasons. But even without megastars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, LaLiga is delivering the drama with a real title race and plenty of drama elsewhere in the table. It is also delivering great young footballers from powerhouses like Real Madrid and Barcelona to less mainstream clubs like Girona and Granada. Let's take a look at the 10 best young players of the 2023/24 LaLiga season so far, using the age of 23 as our c...

4Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Final 2022/23 LaLiga Team of the Season

Now that the 2022/23 LaLiga season has officially come to a close with all the European places decided and the teams heading to the Segunda aware of their fate, it's time to take a look back at the season that was by naming a final Team of the Season. As expected, champions Barcelona dominate this XI, having sewn up the title quite some time ago with their 2-1 head-to-head win over eternal rivals Real Madrid. But not everything is about the "Big 3" as several underrated standouts made the team, including one star from now-relegated side Espanyol. GK Marc-André ter Stegen, Barcelona: Thibaut Courtois would have been the pick in any other season, and Elche's Édgar Badía was also exceptional despite his club's horrible season. But it would be disingenuous to pick against Marc-André t...

The 11 biggest breakout stars of the 2022/23 LaLiga season

4May

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

The 11 biggest breakout stars of the 2022/23 LaLiga season

The 2022/23 LaLiga season has been another wild one, particularly the relegation battle. Although Barcelona had the title won weeks before the end of the season - arguably clinching it with a head-to-head win in the second Clásico of the league campaign - the Spanish top flight has remained compelling near the top of the table without a title race due to the unpredictability of the European places. Along the way, many players have had the opportunities to rise to the occasion to be the heroes for the clubs, even beyond title favorites Barcelona. Tons of young footballers elevated their teams to the European football conversation with strong breakout campaigns. Let's take a look at the 11 biggest breakout stars of the 2022/23 LaLiga season. Girona CM Aleix García Nobody had a more p...