Barca and Girona share the spoils in bad-tempered Catalan derby

Ernesto Valverde made several changes from the victory of Real Sociedad last time out and it was easy to see why as the game started at a good tempo.

Lionel Messi fired a warning shot on 12 minutes after dancing past four players and calling Bono into a good save, but the visitors failed to heed that warning and Barca took the lead just seven minutes later.

Arturo Vidal fed the ball into the feet of Messi 18 yards out and he didn't even break his strike as he stroked a first-time effort low into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.

Girona almost levelled soon after when Alex Granell slipped Portu in one-on-one with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, with the striker rounding the goalkeeper and taking aim, but seeing Gerard Pique get back in time to clear his effort off the line.

The home side suffered a major blow 10 minutes before the break as Lenglet was dismissed for catching Pere Pons in the face as the two challenged for the ball and on the stroke of the interval, Girona took advantage of their extra man to level.

Pique failed to deal with Aday Benitez's ball in from the right and Stuani stole in to nick the ball between him and Sergio Busquets, before lifting an effort over the onrushing Ter Stegen to level the scores.

Both sides made changes at the break in an attempt to take control of the game, but it was the visitors who would strike next.

Just six minutes after the restart Portu was sent bearing down on goal. He was felled by Pique but quickly jumped to his feet and saw an effort saved by Ter Stegen. However, just when Barca thought they may have got away with one the loose ball rolled into the path of Stuani, who rifled into the far corner for his second of the game.

Despite holding the lead and having an extra man it was all Barcelona from that point, with Messi rattling the bar shortly afterwards with an exquisite free-kick.

Valverde's men's pressure eventually told, with the equaliser coming just after the hour-mark, Pique rising highest to nod home after Bono had denied Luis Suarez.

There was to be no dramatic winner for either side, though, with several Messi free-kicks being gathered by the Girona goalkeeper and both Messi and Busquets seeing penalty appeals turned down.

Despite dropping points Barcleona return to the summit of LaLiga on goal difference, whilst Girona move up to sixth, level on points with Atletico Madrid.

 

September 23, 2018