A compilation of some of the most interesting La Liga stories of the week, we go through the good, the bad and the good.
Good – Michel, the manager of all situations
After getting into trouble that many thought would lead to certain death (known as relegation), Girona pulled out at the right time at the end of last season. They did this behind the player from Uruguay, Cristhian Stuani, a ball with a strong gravity in the box, who always seems to come up with a decisive goal.
However, at the beginning of this season, the stomach was shaken by players playing on the high fence, Girona did not look the same. If they switched to a healing style to save themselves, Els blanc-i-vermells sacrificed all self-awareness to do so. Michel Sanchez spoke with such bitter disappointment in one week, and so much anger, that one point, one strike, and 20 goals scored in Girona’s opening five games was not their biggest concern.
As if he needed another reason to be included in the list of saints in Northern Catalonia, what Michel has suggested and his side is a little visible. Last weekend, Girona left the relegation zone for the first time in 15 days, traveling to RCD Mallorca and winning 2-1. Jagoba Arrasate’s have their own problems, that result leaves the two equal on points, but in terms of the situation, they have lost just one game at home all season and were beaten by Barcelona after losing nine players in the first half.
The story of their trip to the island had all the hallmarks of a poor Girona game; A strong team, not interested in dominating the game with the ball, willing to take down the game and many disruptors to win the ground battle. Since Michel’s arrival, Girona have handled the ball well, and look to their professional players to make the difference. What they did against Mallorca, but as Arrasate sends air raids, Girona new way to fight, to release tension in the game, to make it as difficult as they are smart.
Michel’s attitude, the atmosphere of the club, the slow play – few managers come in these bad days. Outside the relegation zone at the moment, Michel’s side look a long way from the safety of the abyss in footballing terms, a miracle of 13 games later.
The bad – Diego Simeone misses home
Atletico Madrid came up this week against Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercup, a game where ‘contundencia’ is very popular. [effectiveness] played a major role in their downfall. Losing a narrow game to Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia is bitter but not as big a problem as their performance against Real Sociedad on Sunday night. In Jeddah, Atletico did all the things they were guilty of lacking in Donostia-San Sebastian.
There again, the dangerous Julian Alvarez or Conor Gallagher get Atleti out, but as it turned out, they drew 1-1 against Real Sociedad in 15th place who lack more finishers than Simeone. It takes their winning percentage in La Liga down to just 30% in 10 away games.
Diego Simeone: “There are days when we can’t say ‘we didn’t play well, we didn’t create chances…’. Today was the opposite, but unfortunately we got out.” pic.twitter.com/gxKZctZFIb
– Atlético Universe (@atletiuniverse) January 8, 2026
If they do well, then the villain of the episode, contentionthey can be caught, and their problems solved. La Real looked like a team with more resources, more verve and more talent. Like Txuri-Urdin, Alaves, Celta Vigo and RCD Mallorca all felt unlucky not to beat Atletico, and if you hang in the bottom half of the table regularly, contundencia is one of the evils lurking beyond the limits of the Line 7 metro.
Good – Do you have the smartest goalkeeper this season?
The slimmest chance you might have at this stage is honoring the goalkeeper’s union twice in a row, however it would be remiss not to give Joan Garcia a chance this week. His flying reaction to Pere Milla’s head lift was excellent. Holding his nerve, and braving Roberto Fernandez to go around him, that was the perfect time to pass a team-mate he had faced hundreds of times in training.
The piece de resistance is saving that he didn’t make it. Former star player Mateu Lahoz called it unsportsmanlike conduct, a red flag, another sign that some officials are philosophically opposed to entertainment. But when Garcia, trying to get the ball back for the first time, realized that he couldn’t get to the ball in time, he came up with a solution. Pushing Gerard Martin down, the panic on Martin’s face was symbolic, but the result was that he was close enough to block Milla’s pursuit. The goal was accomplished by Joan Garcia.
Joan Garcia gave up Gerard Martin for the save pic.twitter.com/OAE1f1tIlp
– Bernese (@thebernese) January 3, 2026
If we melt because of the x-ray vision of midfielders, non-spreading defenders, and ice-cold finishers, agent Joan Garcia deserves much credit for a work of incredible intelligence.
