Teenager Lamine Yamal played a starring role as FC Barcelona thrashed local rivals Girona 4-1 to maintain their winning record in LALIGA this season.
LALIGA
Result: Girona 1-4 FC Barcelona
Date: 15 September 2024
Venue: Estadi Municipal de Montilivi
Barca manager Hansi Flick kept the same side that hammered Real Valladolid 7-0, as Yamal and Raphinha flanked Robert Lewandowski upfront.
The game got off to a frantic start as six minutes from the off, Barca's Lamal blew a good chance with a strike unmarked in the box that went straight to goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Girona also had their threat, early on, as four minutes later Abel Ruiz missed a cross by a second unmarked on the far side that needed just a tap-in.
However, Blaugrana asserted themselves more after that and Yamal eventually broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark after he won the ball high up the field and went clear on goal before beating Gazzaniga in a one-on-one.
Flick's charges remained on the front foot and Yamal doubled their lead and got his brace seven minutes later with a curled shot from a set-piece situation.
The hosts almost pulled a goal back just before the interval after Bryan Gil unleashed a shot in the box that produced a great save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The Catalan giants had a perfect start in the second stanza as Dani Olmo put them out sight two minutes from the break with a strike from a tight angle.
Barca continued to create problems for Girona and just after the hour-mark, Pedri made it 4-0 with a well-taken goal from a through ball by Marc Casado.
The German tactician was able to rest Lewandowski and Pedri with 20 minutes to go, as they were replaced by Ferran Torres and Pau Victor.
The White and Reds eventually got a consolation goal ten minutes before time after Cristhian Stuani fired home a through ball by Portu.
Barcelona finished the game with ten men after Torres lasted only 16 minutes on the pitch as he was red-carded in the dying minutes for a late and reckless challenge.
Blaugrana extended their lead at the top of the table to four points, ahead of second-placed, rivals Real Madrid, after five rounds of matches.
