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Barcelona’s Perfect Start: Barcelona extended their 100% record in La Liga with a dominant 4-1 win over Girona, making it five straight victories to open the season.
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Lamine Yamal Shines: The young star Lamine Yamal was the standout performer, scoring twice and showcasing his talent with a crucial first-half brace.
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Strong Defensive Pressing: Barça’s high press and control in possession stifled Girona early, forcing mistakes and limiting their offensive opportunities.
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Quick Second-Half Goal: Dani Olmo’s early goal in the second half (47') effectively ended Girona’s hopes of a comeback, giving Barça a commanding 3-0 lead.
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Pedri’s Classy Finish: Pedri added a fourth with a composed finish after receiving a brilliant through ball from Marc Casadó, sealing the win.
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Late Girona Consolation: Cristhian Stuani pulled one back for Girona in the 80th minute, but it was little more than a consolation.
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Ferran Torres' Red Card: Ferran Torres was controversially sent off late in the game, but Barça still comfortably managed the closing stages.
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Impressive Team Performance: Barcelona’s hunger, intensity, and tactical discipline remained strong despite the international break, continuing their dominant form.
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After a much-needed international break, Barcelona was back at its La Liga action with an absolute thumping 4-1 at Montilivi Stadium at Girona. The side was in command right from the start and ensured not to let go of its grip as it sustained its winning momentum for its perfect season's opening spree, its fifth consecutive league win.
First Half: Total Domination by Barca
From the start of play, Barcelona dominated the course of the match, kicking the ball around rapidly with precision while insisting on constant pressure high up the pitch to pin Girona back on their heels. Early doors occasionally presented opportunities, yet Girona's goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was available to make the difference and deny his team a way back into the game.
Barça continued to keep the pressure until the 30th minute when Girona's approach to play out from the back was successfully thwarted when center-back David López under pressure from Lamine Yamal coolly finished to put Barça forward.
Seven minutes into the second half, Yamal scored again. The visiting side had a free kick by Raphinha, a free kick that they couldn't clear by Girona, and Yamal curled in a beautiful shot from outside the box to double the lead for Barcelona. The visitors seemed to take away a comfy two-goal advantage at halftime.
Girona did, however, take life just before the break. Bryan Gil went close to leveling for the hosts with an attempt that produced a fantastic stop by Marc-André ter Stegen. Soon after, Girona believed they might have seen a penalty awarded for handball against Barça, but VAR saw fit to rubbish the penalty claims; Iñigo Martínez had no time at all to react when the ball hit his arm. Barça took the break two goals to the good.
Image Source - Goal.com
Second Half: Barca Kill the Game Early
Any Girona aspirations that happened to stay within striking distance were thoroughly crushed just over a minute into the second half. Jules Kounde delivered a pinpoint long pass that released Dani Olmo inside, and from within that tight angle, he thundered in a rocket past Gracia to make it 3-0.
Having taken the game to a comfortable position, Barcelona let Girona have possession of it, sitting on their counter-attacks. Yamal and Robert Lewandowski were guilty of misses to push the lead wide, but Barça never had to wait too long for their fourth. The existing pass from Marc Casadó had him find Pedri deep behind the pitch in the 64th minute, by which time he had rounded the keeper and slotted home to top off a perfect display.
Comfort for Girona and Drama Late
Flick made some changes as to give some first-team players a breather in the dying minutes, and Girona managed to get one back in the 80th minute when Cristhian Stuani tapped in a cross from Portu. It ended on a bit of a sour taste for Barcelona, though, as Ferran Torres's challenge on Yáser Asprilla caused a controversy - the latter's being sent off on a straight red. Barça has to finish the match with 10 men.
Even the red card did not faze Barça, which cooled played out the rest of the match to take yet another three points and consolidate their position as the only team in La Liga with 100% records. Girona had fought hard in the final stages, but the Spanish heavyweights' quality was just too much for them to handle.
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Lineups:
Girona: Gazzaniga; Francés (Arnau 85’), López, Blind, Miguel; Martín, Solís; Gil (Asprilla 55’), Tsigankov (Van de Beek 69’), Danjuma (Portu 55’); Ruiz (Stuani 69’)
Goal: Stuani (80’)
Image Source - X
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsí (Fort 61’), Iñigo, Balde; Olmo (Eric 61’), Casadó, Pedri (Víctor 69’); Yamal (Martín 90+2’), Lewandowski (Ferran 69’), Raphinha
Goals: Yamal (30’, 37’), Olmo (47’), Pedri (64’)
Red Card: Ferran (86’)
Inputs by Barca Blaugranes
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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