Barcelona 2-2 Girona: 5 Talking Points, LaLiga 2018/19

Barcelona dropped their first points of the season as they had to settle for a point against Girona at the Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi predictably opened the scoring for the home side after 19 minutes and it looked as if a routine win was on the cards. But Clement Lenglet was sent off for elbowing in the 35th minute and Girona scored thereafter through Cristhian Stuani to level the game.

Stuani scored again after the interval, but Barca responded when Gerard Pique leveled the game with a headed goal. Despite some late pressure by Barcelona, the game finished 2-2 to still leave the Catalan giants at the top of the table.

Here are five major talking points from the game.

#5 First league start for Arthur neither here nor there

Arthur had a mixed performance

Barcelona recruited Arthur from Gremio in the summer for £35 million and he is one for the future with not many expecting an instant impact. Valverde rested the likes of Coutinho and Rakitic and handed Arthur his first league start against Girona.

He looked really comfortable on the ball and showed great composure. The Brazilian circulated possession really well and it looked as if he was with Barca for years.

But most of his passes were sideways, with negligible attacking penetration coming from him. Arguably he was dropping too deep and eating into Busquets' space. He also gave the ball away cheaply a couple of times, due to some laziness while in possession.

His replacement Coutinho immediately livened up the game and it seems as though his compatriot will keep the starting berth for now. But the promise is there in Arthur and further development could see him take the midfield mantle on at the Camp Nou.

#4 Controversial ejection alters the course of the match

The referee consulted with VAR to send Lenglet off

Clement Lenglet was sent off in the first half for elbowing Pere Pons after the referee consulted with the VAR.

The foul in itself was a contentious decision, as it was a 50-50 challenge in which both men went to the ground. While falling down Lenglet's elbow caught Pons and the referee adjudged that the movement by the Frenchman was intentional.

The decision drew ire from Barcelona players and fans alike, but the game progressed and the decision definitely changed the complexion of the tie. Barcelona was looking comfortable before but Girona scored after the red card and came into the game more considerably.

Despite playing with a man less, they salvaged a draw and dominated proceedings despite their disadvantage. One cannot help but think what would have unfolded if Lenglet would have avoided the ejection.

#3 Should Valverde have brought on Umtiti immediately after the red card?

Valverde's decision to hold off Umtiti will be questioned heavily

Lenglet was sent off in the 35th minute, and Valverde had an option to bring on Samuel Umtiti with ten minutes still to play before half-time. But Umtiti had not warmed up and Valverde chose to persist with Busquets filling in at center-back till half-time.

That decision proved to be an ill-fated one, as Stuani scored before half-time due to some sloppy positioning from, you guessed it, Busquets. One can argue quite sensibly that if Umtiti were on the pitch then Barca won't have conceded the goal.

But concede they did, and it allowed Girona a route back into the game. Many fans thought that Valverde messed up the substitution, but his reason for doing so is valid, a goal conceded or not.

#4 Stuani and Girona carrying form over from last season

Girona players celebrate after their second goal

Cristhian Stuani had a stellar showing last season, scoring 21 goals in the league to better the tally of Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale. Girona also impressed after their promotion, finishing in the top half and playing some eye-catching football in the process.

The Uruguayan has continued his run, and he is the joint top-scorer in the league currently. He took both of his goals well today, especially the second, which was a thumping finish into the roof of the net.

Girona sits at 6th in the table, and they should harbor hopes of playing European football next season. Albeit they were playing with a man advantage, but Girona showed the ambition and fight of a team who should be contending for more.

#1 Squad rotation backfires for Valverde

Vidal started the game with Rakitic and Coutinho on the bench

The Barcelona manager made wholesale changes to his starting eleven after the Champions League clash on Tuesday.

Vidal and Arthur came in for Coutinho and Rakitic in midfield, and Nelson Semedo replaced Sergi Roberto at right-back. Lenglet came in for Umtiti, which was his first league start of the season.

The midfield due of Coutinho and Rakitic was sorely missed, as Vidal and Arthur were not able to offer much going forward even though Vidal got the assist for Messi's opener. Lenglet's moment of madness reduced Barca to ten men and arguably turned the game around.

Granted, Valverde's men will play four games in the next two weeks but perhaps he went a bit too far with the rotation.