Madrid: La Liga newcomers Girona head to the Camp Nou this weekend for the first time in their history. The Catalans are in the top flight on merit and have excelled themselves in 2017/18.

Notice was served in the very first game of the campaign when a creditable 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid announced them to the wider footballing public, but it could’ve been even better had they not let a two-goal lead slip late on.

The experts would suggest at the time that the red and whites were just riding the crest of a wave and that their limitations would soon be exposed, but thanks to their alignment with the City Group, a handful of new players (including some from Manchester City), have helped the minnows to the relative comfort of mid-table.

And there have been some fantastic displays and results along the way too, none more so than a 2-1 win over current champions Real Madrid.

For a team with one of the smallest budgets in La Liga and with the second smallest ground (Montilivi, capacity 13,500) after Eibar’s tiny Ipurura (capacity 7,083), to be able to compete on a level playing field with some of the biggest teams in the world is a true footballing fairy-tale.

It has taken blood, sweat and tears to get there, mind you. Coach Pablo Machin has worked his staff hard, but the rewards have been there for all to see. A win away at neighbours Espanyol, a 6-0 thumping of Las Palmas and a 2-0 win over Athletic Club are other highlights of a fascinating campaign.

Barcelona are, geographically, their closest rivals, but the chasm both financially and on the pitch between the two couldn’t be wider. That said, Girona will fight until the end to get a positive result.

With Barca still unbeaten, there’s a huge carrot for this David to slay Goliath and bring them crashing back down to earth. Getafe’s recent performance there will give them hope too.

In Cristhian Stuani and Portu, both on the score sheet again last weekend against Leganes, they have two potent front men who can cause Barcelona problems.

Quick and sharp, they’ll do most damage on the floor against a sometimes-laboured Pique-Umtiti partnership.

No one will expect them to roll up at the biggest ground in Europe and get a result either, but it’s precisely that expectation that will allow the likes of Alex Granell and Aday Benitez et al to play with absolute freedom and create opportunities for the strikers. All of the pressure is on Barcelona.

Regardless, this energetic and cohesive unit have won over supporters and experts alike with their lively brand of attacking football, and they’ve deserved their place at the top table of Spanish football.

It’s a wonderful success story whichever way you look at it, and one that’s destined to continue. Bravo!