Girona promoted to La Liga for 1st time in 86-year history

Girona's 0-0 home draw to Real Zaragoza on Sunday earned promotion to La Liga with a match to spare, ending exclusion from Spain's top tier since the club was founded 86 years ago.

Pablo Machin, a manager with a modest background in the professional game, melded a squad of smart loan signings, youth team graduates, and players that didn't make the grade at a higher level, and with them forged the most potent attack in the league.

(Courtesy: @GironaFC)

Samuele Longo was brought in on a temporary basis from Inter Milan, and has firmly etched himself into the Albirrojos' folklore. He had been out on four disastrous loans before arriving in Catalonia - scoring no goals in 56 appearances for Hellas Verona, Rayo Vallecano, Cagliari, and Frosinone - but was inspirational in converting 14 efforts en route to promotion from the Segunda Division.

The promising right-back Pablo Maffeo was also snapped up on loan from Manchester City in January, and showed why he's expected to be given a chance by handler Pep Guardiola in Lancashire next season.

Girona's home, the Montilivi, holds little over 9,000, but the outfit will be battling it out with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2017-18. The club was only competing in the fourth tier 10 years ago, yet is now deservedly in La Liga after missing out in the promotion play-offs in the previous two seasons.

At the other end of the Segunda Division, Real Mallorca, the former employer of Samuel Eto'o, Juan Arango, and Pierre Webo, descended into Segunda B after a 2-2 draw at bottom-placed Mirandes. It's a devastating blow for a club that appeared to be on steady footing following years of turbulence.

Girona vaults into La Liga behind runaway leader Levante, which immediately returns to the promised land after last year's relegation.