Inside Girona’s 2023-24 Tactical Revolution Under Míchel
After nine matches in the 2023-24 La Liga campaign, Girona have stunned the Spanish football world. With seven victories and only one defeat—against title favourites Real Madrid—they sit near the top of the table in what is shaping up to be their most remarkable season. This analysis explores Girona’s tactical evolution and the principles driving their success under Míchel.
Flexible Structures: From 3-4-3 to Dynamic Formations
Girona’s shape on the pitch has been a key factor behind their impressive run. While Míchel’s side predominantly operates with a fluid 3-4-3, they are adept at shifting into a 4-1-4-1 shape depending on the game’s phase and opponent. Even when starting with a four-man defense, Girona often transition into a back-three during attacks, maximizing passing lanes and exploiting wide areas.
The core structure features ball-playing defenders—such as Eric Garcia, Daley Blind, and veteran David López—who exhibit composure and technical ability when building from deep. This setup not only supports patient attacking movements but also allows for seamless transitions, helping Girona control possession against more illustrious rivals.
Building Attacks: Key Roles and Combinations
At the heart of Girona’s midfield lies vice-captain Aleix Garcia, a standout performer who orchestrates play with intelligence and an impressive passing range. Partnered by the industrious Yangel Herrera, Garcia helps maintain both composure and tempo, enabling clean progressions from back to front.
Going forward, Girona blend youthful energy and experience. The 19-year-old Brazilian Sávio has been a revelation, contributing directly to six goals in his first nine matches and providing relentless width and trickery. On the opposite flank, wing-back Yan Couto attacks with pace, delivering crosses and stretching defenses.
Lead striker Artem Dovbyk is the focal point of Girona’s attack. With his physical presence and movement, Dovbyk thrives on service from the wings, disturbing opposition backlines and capitalizing on the chaos created by his teammates. This diverse attacking cast allows Girona to break compact defensive units through rapid interplay and varied approaches.
Attacking Philosophy: Patience, Mobility, and Overloads
Girona’s attacking build-up typically starts with the back-three, sometimes supported by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga when the team needs an extra passing option. Their defenders and midfielders circulate the ball patiently, waiting for openings while inviting pressure to create space elsewhere.
A hallmark of Girona’s system is the creation of overloads on one wing, pulling opponents toward the ball before switching play quickly to the opposite flank. Wide players like Sávio and Couto exploit these rotations, often finding themselves in favourable positions to dribble or deliver crosses into the box.
Passing patterns often involve:
– Ball circulation across the back-three to shift opposition shape
– Midfielders dropping deep to drag markers and open channels
– Widely positioned attackers providing width and stretching defensive lines
– The use of inverted full-backs, such as Miguel Gutiérrez, drifting centrally before surging to the touchline as attacks unfold
Girona are especially dangerous in transition. Their front-three can break forward at speed, with Sávio driving into space and Dovbyk making intelligent runs. Their combinations often lead to quick opportunities on goal or draw defenders out of position, enabling secondary attackers—such as Garcia—to arrive late and threaten from distance.
The numbers speak for themselves: in their opening nine contests, Girona netted 19 goals, demonstrating the effectiveness of their varied and adaptable attack.
Defensive Organization: Strengths and Areas for Improvement
On the defensive end, Girona’s collective experience shines through. Their counter-press is one of their most effective defensive tools, with the nearest player applying immediate pressure when possession is lost. The team’s compact attacking positioning naturally aids their ability to win the ball high up the pitch, and Aleix Garcia often acts as a disruptor, intercepting would-be counterattacks before they reach the back line.
Despite these positives, some vulnerabilities remain:
– Set-pieces have proven problematic, with Girona conceding four goals from dead-ball situations in the early stretch of the season.
– The high defensive line, while helpful in compressing play, can be exploited by opponents with pace. David López, for all his intelligence, lacks the speed to consistently recover against quick strikers, and Daley Blind can be exposed when forced to turn and chase back.
Girona typically defend in compact shapes, forming diamonds in midfield and allowing fullbacks to advance and contest wide threats. When Yangel Herrera presses forward, Garcia drops in to shield the defense, often producing a 5-1-3-1 out-of-possession structure.
The challenge arises when an individual defender steps out aggressively—one wrong move can leave gaps that fast opponents exploit, leading to goals against the run of play. Girona conceded 11 goals in their first nine outings, an area they must address if they hope to maintain their place among Spain’s elite.
Conclusion: Girona’s Unlikely Charge and What Comes Next
Girona’s remarkable rise in the 2023-24 season is a product of tactical innovation, smart recruitment, and fearless execution. Their ability to shift shapes, create overloads, and play expansive, proactive football has caught many opponents off guard.
While retaining emerging stars like Sávio and Couto could become challenging as their stock rises, the foundation laid by Míchel promises continued excitement. With some adjustments to set-piece defending and transitional solidity, Girona could well secure a top-four finish and earn their place among La Liga’s elite for seasons to come.
The journey is far from over, but Girona’s style and substance have already made this a season to remember.
