Underdogs Girona still leading Spanish La Liga, spending fairy-tale season

By Can Erozden

Girona, a tiny club in the Spanish La Liga, are currently in a fairy-tale season to amaze football authorities as they are still leading the league after the matchday 13 held last weekend.

The club from Spain's northeast last beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in a Saturday La Liga match in Madrid to leave favorites Barcelona and Real Madrid behind in standings before the international break for the EURO 2024 qualifiers.

Girona completed a 2-1 comeback at Rayo Vallecano after Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk and Brazilian winger Savio scored for the visitors at the Vallecas Stadium.

One-third of the season in Spain has been completed and Girona keep leading the league with 34 points in 13 matches.

Girona, who have been playing in the top-flight La Liga division since last season that they ended in mid-table, won 11 matches, and took a draw and loss once during the 2023-24 season.

Second-place Real Madrid are on Girona's tail after the Whites thrashed Valencia 5-1 at home on Saturday.

Real Madrid duo in forward Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo were on duty to score twice each after right-back Daniel Carvajal scored the opening goal in the early minutes.

Hugo Duro scored a consolation goal for Valencia near the end of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

La Liga's record holders Real Madrid have 32 points, and are seeking a mistake of Girona.

Barcelona, who won the 2023 La Liga in May, have 30 points this season to be third in the league table with 30 points.

Barca beat Deportivo Alaves 2-1 on Sunday as Polish forward Robert Lewandowski scored a brace for the home team.

- Man City draw at Chelsea in 8-goal thriller

English leaders Manchester City on Sunday drew with Chelsea 4-4 in London on matchday 12 of the Premier League.

Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland scored twice in the 25th and 47th minutes, while Manuel Akanji and Rodri produced one goal each in the 46th and 86th minutes respectively for the Sky Blues at Stamford Bridge.

Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Nicolas Jackson netted in the 29th, 37th, and 67th minutes for Chelsea. Another goal came from Cole Palmer as he scored a stoppage-time penalty.

Collecting 28 points, Manchester City remained at the top of the standings. Spending a turbulent season, Chelsea are in the 10th position with 16 points in 12 matches.

On Sunday Liverpool beat Brentford 3-0 at Anfield with the help of Mohamed Salah as the Egyptian star scored twice. Diogo Jota added one goal for the Reds.

Manchester City's nearest rivals in standings; Liverpool and Arsenal have 27 points each after the matchday 12.

Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1 in a Saturday match in London to be in the race.

Fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who led the league in previous weeks, lost at Wolves 2-1 to be handed their second defeat in a row.

Spurs have 26 points to be after Arsenal and Liverpool.

- Inter Milan remain top of Italian league

Inter Milan beat Frosinone 2-0 in a Sunday league match to keep leading the Italian Serie A division.

Federico Dimarco and Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu were the scorers for the Nerazzurri in Milan.

Inter have 31 points but they are not alone in the title race.

Juventus are two points behind Inter after they beat Cagliari 2-1 on Saturday.

Following a 2-2 draw with Lecce on Saturday, AC Milan are third with 23 points in the league.

- Unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen in dream season in Germany

Bayer Leverkusen are still unbeaten and leading the top-tier German Bundesliga which has been almost always dominated by defending winners and record holders Bayern Munich.

Xabi Alonso's men made a flying start to the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign to be above Bayern Munich in standings after the matchday 11, which means one third of the Bundesliga season will complete soon.

Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday won against Union Berlin 4-0 at home, a comprehensive victory for the Werkself.

Alejandro Grimaldo, Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah, and Nathan Tella scored for the victors.

Bayer Leverkusen collected 31 points after 10 wins and a draw. However they are chased by Bayern Munich.

Harry-Kane led Bayern Munich toppled Heidenheim 4-2 on Saturday in Munich.

English star Kane scored two goals for Bayern Munich, who have 29 points in 11 appearances.

Stuttgart beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 last weekend to be in the third place with 24 points.

- Mbappe's hat-trick sends PSG to French league's top

French superstar Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick against Reims on Saturday as his club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) became the French Ligue 1 leaders with 27 points after 12 appearances.

PSG won at Reims 3-0 with the big help of Mbappe, and topped the French league after title contenders Nice and Monaco lost points.

Nice, who previously led the Ligue 1, were handed a 0-0 draw with Montpellier. Monaco, another club in the top three, took a goalless draw with Le Havre to be after Nice.

Nice have 26 points, and Monaco have 24.