FC Barcelona dominates Girona with a 4-1 win, maintaining their perfect La Liga record. Read about the match highlights and player performances today.
Introduction:
FC Barcelona produced a scintillating performance in one of the matches everyone had been waiting for as the Catalan derby against Girona yielded a 4-1 La Liga victory. The Blaugrana secured their fifth consecutives victory of the season with goals from Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Pedri, thus putting forward the perfect start to the campaign.
A Tough Fixture on Paper
FC Barcelona had a horror story with Girona in the previous campaign on both grounds. But this time, they went out there to make sure that writing a new story was the intent. On paper, the trip to Girona-a third-place La Liga finisher last season-seemed to be one of the most challenging fixtures of the season. However, Barça passed the test flying a superb color in their new ‘Black Barça’ kit.
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Hansi Flick’s side was dominant right from the get-go, not really giving much for Girona to do on their way to a loss. After five games in a row, now three in succession without losing, Barça has not allowed a goal to be scored in its last two matches, finding the back of the opponent’s net eleven times during those two games. As the Champions League pushes into a big match against Monaco, Barça are scary to behold.
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Lamine Yamal’s Heroics
Teen sensation Lamine Yamal was the match’s man of the match: he scored two and made everyone see why there is no way he’s going to be kept from the starting lineup anytime soon. He gave his second goal unexpectedly when he took advantage of the loose ball that Girona’s David López lost and wrangled it into the opponent’s field, taking it hard and past the goalkeeper.
Seven minutes later, Yamal was to score the second as it was the defense of Girona which failed to clear a freekick and kept the ball in a dreadful area. Yamal was quick to sense the situation and calmly slotted the ball into the goal to give Barça a 2-0 lead.
Olmo and Pedri Extend the Lead
As Girona tried to launch a counterattack, Barça remained fully in control. Marc-André ter Stegen produced a great save to deny Bryan Gil, and later down the line, Barça got a penalty when Iñigo Martinez’s handball was awarded, only for VAR to intervene, overturning the penalty call that gave the visiting team an even bigger boost.
That was not long after that when a Jules Koundé foul helped the ball out to Dani Olmo, who did not miss his kick, shooting it home from just a few yards out. It was Olmo’s third game in a row with a goal for the club, a fantastic start to his Barça career.
Barcelona pushed further; Robert Lewandowski, after playing his 100th match for the club, seemed to be close to scoring another. Eventually, Pedri, after a brilliant through ball from Marc Casadó, caught up the end to seal it at 4-0.
Late Consolation and a Red Card
Girona found a late consolation goal through Cristhian Stuani, which should have been something to cheer about for the fans; however, for Barça, Ferran Torres was given a direct red card for his foul on Yaser Asprilla thereby reducing them into ten men. This is the only second red card of his career and the first since joining Barça for Ferran Torres.
Yet, such late developments never soured Barcelona’s assemblage during the game. More so, there was no doubt that the 4-1 victory at home steadied their firm claim to superiority in the Catalan derby and maintains the lead spot of early La Liga leaders.