In recent years, Spanish football fans have been well-acquainted with the undeniable fact that La Liga has been primarily under the spell of two powerhouses: Real Madrid and Barcelona. The fierce El Clasico adversaries have collectively seized a remarkable 62 Spanish top-flight titles, accounting for more than half of all the league championships.
Nonetheless, there have been certain seasons in which dark horses have triumphed…
Girona
This season, one team that has been the centre of attention in Spanish and European football is none other than Girona. The rise of this Catalonian club has been nothing short of remarkable, especially considering the fact that, in their entire time as a club, they’ve only historically managed to compete in the La Liga for three seasons.
As it stands, they’re currently going head to head with Real Madrid in a battle for the crown and football betting markets make them genuine title contenders with shorter odds than fellow Catalans and reigning champions Barcelona.
Girona recently knocked off Atletico Madrid with a 4-3 victory at Estadi Montilivi. This is particularly impressive given that Los Rojiblancos are the last team, other than the two perennial heavyweights, to have lifted the La Liga trophy.
Spearheading the team was none other than the enigmatic head coach and former captain, Diego Simeone, alongside influential veteran striker, Luis Suarez. They acquired the Uruguayan hitman for a nominal fee from Barca at the beginning of the campaign, and the Blaugrana’s loss was Atleti’s gain, as the former Liverpool man struck 21 times en route to the title.
That victory showed some level of predictability, unlike the one that took place in 2014. During that time, Los Rojiblancos weren’t the formidable team they are today. Assembled with limited funds, they relied on a mixture of experienced players and journeyman talents, such as the influential captain and midfield dynamo, Gabi.
Furthermore, their rock-solid defence boasted the likes of Diego Godin and Miranda. Under Simeone’s guidance, they cultivated a team spirit that was prepared to give their all for three crucial points – a strategy that proved successful in that it led the club to their first title in nearly two decades.
Valencia
Valencia is our next focus, a team that romped to glory in the 2001/02 and 2003/04 seasons. During this successful period, the team was coached by none other than Rafael Benitez, whose tactical expertise would later play a crucial role in Liverpool’s unforgettable “Miracle of Istanbul”.
In that riveting 2005 UEFA Champions League final, the Reds trailed AC Milan by three goals to nil at halftime, however, their Spanish manager’s strategic brilliance propelled the Merseysiders to an extraordinary victory.
Valencia’s team boasted notable talents such as Pablo Aimar, Ruben Baraja, and Roberto Ayala, whose contributions proved pivotal in securing these prestigious titles. Regrettably, Los Ches have faced difficulties in recent times, failing to come near the title ever since their moment of glory. Instead, they find themselves anxiously scrutinising the lingering menace of relegation due to their perilous financial predicament.
Deportivo La Coruna
Deportivo La Coruna came as a shocking surprise on our radar, dethroning the dominance of both Real Madrid and Barcelona to clinch the La Liga crown during the gripping 1999/00 season.
Led by by the awe-inspiring Brazilian forward, Bebeto, who netted an impressive 20 goals in the league, and masterfully assisted by the creative Spanish midfielder, Francisco Javier González Pérez (Fran), who contributed 11 assists, Deportivo’s squad proved their mettle. Since that glorious maiden triumph, Deportivo has been grappling with tribulations and now languishes in the abyss of Spanish football, resigned to the confines of the fourth tier.
As these historical wins show, anything can happen. Perhaps this current season could see another victory for a dark horse contender.
