Football Manager 2018: 10 Challenging Teams You Must Consider Managing
3. Girona
Playing in a top flight for the first time in your history is never easy, but it's even harder when you're up against teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid each week.
This is the challenge newly-promoted Girona FC face, and it's one they're rising to admirably if their recent 2-1 victory over defending champions Real is anything to go off. Your task on FM18 is to emulate results like this, and it won't be easy.
Girona's squad is worth just £37 million and their stadium has a capacity of 13,500. Some of the best players at your disposal include ex-Middlesbrough pair Cristhian Stuani and Bernado, and midfield maestro Portu.
The term minnows doesn't quite cut it, but players who select this club with have a secret weapon up their sleeve: an association with Manchester City. City Football Group holds a 44.3% stake in the team and Pep Guardiola's brother Pere's company Girona Football Group owns the same percentage.
There are currently five City players on loan at Girona as a result of this agreement, and the key to guiding them to La Liga safety, and eventually challenging at the right end of the table, is taking advantage of this partnership.