I am really surprised to see how Girona I used to play in a gamble to lose is proven to be a serious La Liga title contender this season. If Girona beats Real Betis in Betis home, then I will say Real Madrid has a long way to go in winning the La Liga title this season.
Far too early to say this as there are still 21! games to go. Real Madrid has so much experience and they can patiently play their game and wait for Girona to make mistakes. As you can see Girona is playing an almost perfect season and is Real Madrid close? That's the problem, Real Madrid doesn't make lots of mistakes. The pressure for Girona will remain high, but I think the objective to finish the season as a club from the top four is realistic. Maybe if they are still leading after 27 games or so, it is time to grab for the title.
It's really not easy being chased by Real Madrid who are a giant club with strong mentality. They have experience and ability to play patient games waiting to capitalize on competitors' mistakes. Girona having almost perfect season shows their strength, but the challenge to compete with Real Madrid have to make sure that they dont make mistakes. This is the biggest pressure on Girona who is not used compete for the league title.
Aiming for a top-four finish as a realistic objective is reasonable, considering the long season ahead, because the squad depth issue compared to Real Madrid and Barcelona is lacking. But They have come too far to lower their expectation, and they only need to keep going with consistency, and have ability to react positively if mistake happens. They can't alow one bad game affect their mentality negatively, because Real Madrid will come without mercy. However, it's a wise thought that chasing the title might be more realistic after 27 games, considering the dynamics of a long football season. It allows for a more accurate assessment of Girona's true standing and potential to contend for the title.