Barcelona played some of their best football as they put six past a helpless Girona on Saturday night. Luis Suarez bagged a hat-trick and Lionel Messi a brace, along with a stunner from Philippe Coutinho to see off their Catalan neighbours in style.
Girona have been one of La Liga’s surprise packages this season, their first ever in the top division. Pablo Machin took over the reins in 2014 when they were bottom of the Segunda division and has overseen a huge change in fortunes over the following years. Indeed, so unusual is it for Girona to be this high in the standings, most of their followers are also Barcelona fans.
On the pitch though they showed few signs of their inexperience as they capitalised on a defensive error to take the lead after two minutes. Umtiti and ter Stegen suffered a breakdown in communication, allowing Portu to steal in between them and round the ‘keeper. His left-footed finish from a tight angle hit both posts before hitting the back of the net.
Unfortunately for Girona, they are the ninth Catalan team to have played away at Camp Nou, and history was against them as the other eight have all lost on their first visit. Luis Suarez restored parity barely two minutes later after Messi played him in, finishing coolly over the keeper.
Barca’s second game came on the half hour mark. A long ball forward was chested down by Suarez, who looked offside, into Messi’s path. The Argentine looked to have overran it but he shifted back onto his left foot, beat two defenders and fired an effort past Bono in goal. Bono might have been disappointed not to stop this effort but he could do nothing about the third. A free kick on the edge of the box was fired under the wall by Messi and into the bottom corner.
Suarez then grabbed his second before half time after he finished off a fluid team move. Messi put Coutinho in behind the defence and he squared to his former Liverpool team mate to tap into an empty net.
Shortly after the half, Gerard Pique took a knock after a heavy challenge. He looked to run it off but was substituted ten minutes later. Whether or not this was just a precaution only Ernesto Valverde knows.
Off the pitch, the fans of the two teams intermingled before the match as events were put on to celebrate this first ever Catalan derby at Camp Nou between the two teams.It appears there was a lot to unite the fan bases with the stadium a sea of yellow before kick-off. Sadly for the 'Blanquivermell', Suarez, Messi and co. were not feeling so welcoming once the whistle blew.