Historic Girona: Breaking down how Michel's team have topped La Liga

And at La Cerámica came the sixth. Six consecutive victories for a Girona team that for the first time in its history ends a La Liga gameweek at the top of the table. A story of highs and lows that reached a climax under the guidance of Míchel, with a team that has been astounding.

Showy, vertical, brave, attractive... Girona can be categorised in many ways, but above all, as a team. The team built and commanded by Míchel Sánchez lacks outstanding individual figures and instead shines with a compact block that works with a set idea, and is loved by all. 

Talented and effective in attack, solid and constructive in the middle and courageous in defence, the Montilivi team has deservedly earned the prize of being the undisputed leader of La Liga, as well as being one of the best teams in the major European leagues.

After the first seven matchdays played, Girona is, along with Barça, the only team still undefeated in the Spanish top flight, as well as being one of the few remaining undefeated in Europe. With one extra gameweek played than the rest of the major European leagues, only City and Bayern are keeping pace with Girona.

❤✨🤍 ¡𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎́𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎 @GironaFC!#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/sf2f8jNeim

— LALIGA (@LaLiga) 27 de septiembre de 2023

Reale Arena, Sánchez Puzjuán, Los Carmenes and La Cerámica have been the four away days so far. With the exception of Granada, all of them European qualifying sides. In addition, the visits to Montilivi by Getafe, Las Palmas and Mallorca, mid- to low-table teams, have all been victories.

The great success of this Girona team lies undoubtedly in the collective. In his third season in charge of the team, Míchel Sánchez has managed to consolidate a squad that has not stopped growing since he took over in the second division. 

After the year of his return to the top flight of Spanish football, where Girona got some big results against big teams, the 23-24 season is undoubtedly the season of his consecration. 

The additions of Savinho, Dovbyk, Blind and Eric García have helped to perfect a squad that suffered a setback with the departure of Oriol Romeu, which has been 'solved' with the recovery of the best version of Yangel Herrera and Aleix García who is undoubtedly one of the big names in LaLiga. 

🫀 Corazón
🧠 Confianza
🤝 Mucho trabajo

🔝 Míchel ha dado una lección a LaLiga

🎩⚽️ Sus palabras son imperdibles y pocos entrenadores transmiten tan bien como él

✍️ @AlexCalaff https://t.co/61ojzIPywA

— Diario SPORT (@sport) 26 de septiembre de 2023

Players who shine, but who, above all, understand the idea of Míchel, who will not play players just for their reputation. The clear example of this is none other than Iván Martín, who despite having a lot of quality competition season after season, is an almost irreplaceable fixture in his eleven. 

Taking away the Basque midfielder's place is a big task, something that Rodrigo Riquelme suffered with last season and which is taking its toll on Pablo Torre's minutes this season.

And in the same vein, David López, along with the arrivals of Eric García and Daley Blind, are looking for the defensive solidity that was so lacking last season. A solidity that also comes thanks to the great performances of Paulo Gazzaniga. 

But undoubtedly, the great 'explosion' of Girona is helped by the extra gear that the team knows how to find in the most difficult moments of matches, something that was difficult for them years ago. Being a team with a taste for the ball and with a precise touch game, Míchel has found in Artem Dovbyk a 'secret weapon' to break lines. 

The sizeable Ukrainian striker is a brutal escape route in times of trouble, and with long balls and offloads to the wingers, Girona have found a new offensive dagger with him. That said, it is with the undisputed company of Sávio and Tsygankov, who take advantage with their speed and talent of the new opportunity given by the No 9 at Montilivi.

And if that wasn't enough, when Míchel turns his head to the bench to look for solutions, he finds variants of all kinds. Portu and Stuani have plenty of attacking options to offer. 

Talent with the youth of Pablo Torre and the newcomer John Solís and defensive solutions with different profiles such as Daley Blind or Yan Couto, who can perfectly replace any of the theoretical first-choice players.

All of this forms the perfect combination that has found its perfect moment to exploit a project that has been carefully worked on and cared for with Míchel at the helm and a management team that has believed and worked hard to get this far. 

Real Madrid appear next on the calendar, with the memory of last season's thrashing and the objective of achieving a victory that would make Girona's history shine even brighter -- a team that dreams big and deservedly so.