Barça 4-1 Girona: Recap

Another excellent team performance and a deserved win

Barcelona have restored their three-point lead at the top of the La Liga table with nine games to go thanks to a dominant 4-1 victory over local rivals Girona at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Blaugrana were the better side for the entire game and found separation in the second half to secure the three points in the Catalan derby.

FIRST HALF

Hansi Flick made several changes to his usual starting XI but the rotations didn’t impact the level of play from his team: Barça were excellent from start to finish in the opening period, dominating the ball and the territory, controlling Girona’s counter-attacks with great pressing out of possession, and creating real danger with great passing and movement in the attacking half.

They also had to overcome a horrendous refereeing performance by Juan Luis Pulido Santana, who denied Barça a clear penalty 10 minutes into the action when Fermín López was fouled by Yáser Asprilla right on the line at the edge of the box. VAR even gave him a chance to look at the screen, but the referee decided to punish Fermín for simulation and denied an obvious spot kick.

The Blaugrana continued to apply pressure and create big chances, though, and both Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo were denied by fantastic saves from Paulo Gazzaniga. Jules Kounde found the net but was called for a narrow offside, and Lamine Yamal was clearly pushed in the back by Yangel Herrera inside the box but the referee once again did not give Barça a penalty.

It seemed like the hosts would not get a reward for their great work, but they finally found the net just before halftime in a freak accident: Yamal fired a free-kick hard and low into the box, and the ball hit the arm of center-back Ladislav Krejci and went into the net for an own goal to put Barça in front.

The halftime whistle came to end a period in which Barça created enough to score more than once and should have had at least one penalty, but they had to settle for a narrow lead at the break and still had work to be done in the second half to secure the victory.

SECOND HALF

Girona came out much more aggressive to begin the second half, pressing higher up the pitch and being more physical in their duels. Daley Blind was a bright spot for the visitors, and he was responsible for winning the ball in midfield and assisting Arnaut Danjuma as Girona equalized eight minutes into the action and blew the game wide open.

Hansi Flick was ready to call for help from the bench with Frenkie de Jong and Ferran Torres ready to come on, but the players on the pitch gave Barça the lead back at the hour mark as Fermín won a header at the far post after a cross from Gavi and Lewandowski showed amazing strength and resilience to fend off a defender and get to the ball before Gazzaniga to put Barça back in front.

De Jong and Ferran eventually came on to try and solidify the lead and look to add another goal, while Girona coach Míchel made changes looking to make his team faster and more dangerous in attack. The visitors began sending more bodies forward and Danjuma became a serious threat down the left wing, and Girona reached the final 15 minutes feeling like they could get back in the game.

But the visitors were made to pay for their approach thanks to De Jong’s brilliance: the Dutchman received a pass from Ronald Araujo in midfield, sat down his defender with a beautiful spin, carried the ball through the middle all the way to the edge of the box and found Lewandowski, who cut inside on his right foot and found the bottom corner to double his tally and Barça’s lead.

Lewandowski’s second goal had a visible impact on Girona as the visitors lost their impetus and could no longer offer a threat, and Barça made sure of the points with five minutes to go thanks to an excellent assist by Gerard Martín and a gorgeous finish from Ferran to continue his brilliant form.

Barça continued to press looking for a fifth and Yamal almost scored a Goal of the Season contender with an incredible strike that hit the edge of the crossbar and the post, and Alejandro Balde also had a couple of chances off the bench but couldn’t find the net.

The final whistle eventually came to end a very nice afternoon for Barça, who had to wait an hour to finally get the separation they deserved after an amazing performance. Girona’s equalizer could have made this a tough game in the second half, but Barça kept playing their football and put their local rivals away in dominant fashion.

Atlético Madrid is up next, and this was quite the warm-up for what should be another spectacle against the Colchoneros. Well done, boys!

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Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Iñigo (Cubarsí 81’), Martín; Eric (Balde 81’), Pedri (Torre 87’); Yamal, Fermín (De Jong 66’), Gavi (Ferran 66’); Lewandowski

Goals: Krejci (OG 43’), Lewandowski (61’, 77’), Ferran (86’)

Girona: Gazzaniga; Francés, Blind, Krejci, Miguel; Arnau (Misehouy 80’), Arthur (Solís 71’), Herrera, Asprilla (Portu 59’); Tsygankov (Stuani 71’), Danjuma

Goal: Danjuma (53’)

Source: barcablaugranes.com