Girona 0-2 Barcelona
Lionel Messi scored in his seventh consecutive league game to give Barcelona a vital win over ten-man Girona, and extend their lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
Ernesto Valverde has been rotating his squad in recent weeks but he brought the big guns back into his line-up as Messi made a start as captain. And he scored the goal to seal the points after Girona’s Bernardo Espinosa had seen red.
Eusebio’s team made a strong start to this season but has found wins hard to come by recently, so a home victory at the Municipal de Montilivi with only ten men was a step too far. And his team sits uncomfortably four points above the drop zone.
But the title is staying in Catalonia according to La Liga 2019 betting odds and this was another big step along the way for Barca.
Highlights of the barcelona
Girona was determined to push the league leaders all the way and came out of the traps quickly, having the first attempt on goal in the opening minute but Aleix Garcia had his shot charged down. And then, just like that, they were behind!
Nelson Semedo was signed from Benfica in a 30m Euro deal to solve Barca’s right back problems but he can provide a threat going forward; and he was the man to open Barca’s account with just nine minutes gone, firing low into the bottom right corner and giving Yassine Bounou no chance.
The hosts tried to fight back immediately but when Alex Granell delivered a free-kick into the box Pedro Alcaca headed well over. Messi came close to doubling the lead after good work from Luis Suarez and then had a shot charged down, but it was Girona who threatened more as the half wore on. Big defender Bernardo Espinosa met a Pedro Porro cross but headed straight at Ter Stegen in the Barca goal, and then top scorer Cristhian Stuani brought another save from the Barca keeper.
The second half continued in the same pattern with Messi shooting over at one end, and Stuani firing straight at Ter Stegen at the other. But then Girona’s task suddenly became much more difficult when Espinosa picked up a second yellow card and headed off for an early bath. Stuani wanted to take up the challenge though, and he came close to scoring on 55 minutes but his shot was well saved in the bottom corner.
On the hour mark, Philippe Coutinho did well to put in Messi but the Girona defence managed to block his shot, but they could do nothing with his effort minutes later when Jordi Alba gave him the chance and he fired home with his left foot.
Barca almost made it three when Messi passed to Ivan Rakitic and the Croat’s shot arrowed towards the bottom right corner, but Bounou got down to make a fine save, and then Coutinho was denied in injury time as was Suarez, but two was plenty for the champions.
Key statistics
Barca fans will have picked up from yesterday’s La Liga 2019 updates that Atletico Madrid had beaten Getafe to trim the Catalans’ lead to two points. But the order was soon restored.
The pre-match SBOBET odds pointed to a two-goal win for the Champions and so it was, but until the hosts went down to ten men Girona was right in the game. The visitors had the lion’s share of possession in the first half but Girona was leading the shot count, eight to four and three to two on target, making Barca’s Ter Stegen the busier keeper.
In the end, both teams had 13 shots and five each on target, but Barcelona dominated the ball and had more potency. That makes it five wins and a draw for Barca over their near neighbours. But Girona’s home woes continue with only two wins in 16.
What’s next?
Girona is back here in midweek to try to overturn a 2-4 Copa del Rey deficit against Real Madrid after Los Blancos hit them with late goals in the first leg. Then it’s back to league matters and an away fixture against Eibar.
Barcelona also has a two-goal deficit to claw back in the Copa and that won’t be easy against a Sevilla side with plenty of goals in it. Then they return to the Camp Nou again at the weekend to take on Valencia in La Liga.
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