Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 victory over Girona within the Catalan derby thanks to 2 opening objectives from teenage famous person Lamine Yamal.
The guests continued their unbeaten begin to the 2024/25 La Liga marketing campaign, making gentle work of their journey to Girona.
Their outcome permits Barca to stay on the high of the desk, 4 factors forward of final yr’s champions, Actual Madrid.
How the sport unfolded
It was a scrappy begin on the Estadi Montilivi with each side desirous to press and take an early lead. Barcelona started to dominate possession from the offset, taking part in on the entrance foot whereas dealing with Girona’s assault with ease.
Lamine Yamal got here near incomes the primary objective of the sport, reaching a free ball that fell from a Dani Olmo cross. The 17-year-old powered a shot in the direction of the field, however was not in a position to outsmart goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Girona responded with tempo, firing a cross that skimmed throughout the face of the objective. The ball, seemingly simply inches away, was too far for Abel Ruiz to succeed in – leaving the sport scoreless as soon as once more.
Simply forward of the 30 minute mark, Yamal etched his title onto the scoresheet, gifting Barca a bonus as he powered a stupendous end into the highest nook of the web. The teenager proved as soon as once more simply how important he’s, crafting a objective solely on his personal after profitable the ball away from David Lopez.
Seven minutes later, he added one other objective to his roster after Robert Lewandowski dropped a ball in the direction of the toes of Yamal – who curled a shot in to double Barca’s lead.
Girona confronted yet one more blow earlier than halftime after failing to safe a penalty attributable to a handball from Inigo Martinez. Referee Ruiz was requested to overview the choice and selected in opposition to awarding the hosts an opportunity in entrance of objective.
Simply minutes after the break, Barca discovered yet one more objective as Jules Kounde lofted a ball over to Dani Olmo – who slotted it into the roof of the web. There was nothing Girona may do as Barca ran again into the sport with clear intentions.
The guests wasted no time in making it 4-0, with Pedri this time the one attributed to the objective. The Spanish star handed the ball into the web after a stupendous help from Marc Casado, who fired it straight into the trail of Pedri.
A glimmer of hope got here for the hosts with 10 minutes remaining as Girona earned one again to disclaim Marc-Andre ter Stegen a clear sheet. Cristhian Stuani made gentle work of tapping the ball into the again of the web whereas the goalkeeper was elsewhere.
Barca had been then pressured to defend their lead with simply 10 males as Ferran Torres was proven a pink card for a troublesome problem on Yaser Asprilla, stamping on the Girona man’s foot within the observe by. The guests had no bother in retaining ahold of their 4-1 lead and reigned victorious when the full-time whistle blew.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 5/10 – Did not have an excessive amount of work to do as his teammates directed play up the opposite finish of the pitch. Made a careless mistake to permit Girona to earn one again however fortunately Barca’s lead was already settled.
RB: Jules Kounde – 8/10 – Kounde unleashed a tactical masterclass in opposition to Girona, opting to push forward relatively than drop again alongside his defensive counterparts. He stored play vast and supplied area for his teammates to run. Nice efficiency.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – 7/10 – A pleasure to observe as at all times. Cubarsi supplied sensational passing going ahead while remaining a key determine in defence. At simply 17-years-old he’s actually gamechanging.
CB: Inigo Martinez – 6/10 – Martinez was concerned in a controversial handball choice that denied Girona a penalty. He symbolised the weaker of the defensive lineup, however nonetheless confirmed glimmers of promise.
LB: Alejandro Balde – 7/10 – Balde was unfortunate to not register his title on the scoresheet after placing in a powerful efficiency. He labored exhausting in 1v1’s, consistently beating his man and facilitating robust passes.
DM: Marc Casado – 7/10 – A really incredible recreation from Casado who delivered a wonderfully timed help into the pathway of Pedri to provoke Barca’s third objective of the sport. One of the spectacular gamers within the recreation.
DM: Pedri – 7/10 – The 21-year-old earned the possibility to attain Barca’s 4 objective as they cruised to victory. He appeared technical and clever all through the sport, shifting into the appropriate positions to optimise play.
RW: Lamine Yamal – 8/10 – There aren’t sufficient phrases to sum up how unimaginable Yamal is. The Kopa Trophy nominee earned Barca’s first and second objectives of the sport and simply may’ve added one other. The teenager races throughout the pitch with tempo and precision – one other job nicely finished from Yamal.
AM: Dani Olmo – 8/10 – Olmo offered a stupendous objective simply after the break, setting Barca on the appropriate foot as they charged again into the sport. Three objectives in three video games – he is proved to be a reasonably distinctive signing.
LW: Raphinha – 6/10 – A powerful efficiency from Raphinha, even when he was unable to affix the 4 different objective scorers. The winger generally drifted somewhat distant from his left aspect, which sophisticated issues in assault.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – 7/10 – Lewandowski has clearly nonetheless acquired it and offers a lot to the youthful Barca squad. His help for Yamal’s second objective demonstrated his degree of consciousness across the field. He did not earn a objective at this time, however his efficiency was immaculate.
Substitutes
SUB: Eric Garcia (61′ for Olmo) – 6/10
SUB: Hector Fort (61′ Cubarsi) – 6/10
SUB: Ferran Torres (69′ for Lewandowski) – 4/10
SUB: Pau Victor (69′ for Pedri) – 6/10
SUB: Gerard Martin (92′ for Yamal) – N/A
Supervisor
Hansi Flick – 8/10 – Did not make any adjustments from the workforce that dominated Actual Valladolid earlier than the worldwide break – if it is not broke, do not repair it.
Participant of the match: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
