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Barcelona traveled to Girona for the Catalan Derby on Sunday. They came away with a 2-0 win but it was by no means an easy one.
Nelson Semedo scored for Barcelona in the first ten minutes, popping up in the box to fire a powerful low drive. It gave Barcelona the perfect start. Girona played well though and went into half-time trailing by just one goal. Lionel Messi doubled up the lead halfway through the second half.
The win extended Barca's lead at the top of the table to five points. Meanwhile, Girona drops to 14th in the table and are just 4 points above the relegation zone.
Despite the two sides' contrasting fortunes in the league table, the contest was not a one-sided one. Girona gave their best shot and came up short by a small margin. It was an intense clash and here are the major talking points from the game.
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#5 Questionable red card at a crucial time changed the game
Barcelona scored early through Semedo and were leading at the break. But despite the scoreline, Girona were right up there with their opponents. They were pressing high up the pitch and created a few chances of their own.
Girona started the second half brightly and threatened to breach Marc-Andre ter Stegen's goal. Portu and Cristhian Stuani were looking lively and the latter wasted a golden chance when he fired straight at the keeper. Things changed when Bernardo Espinosa received a second yellow card for a soft foul on Luis Suarez. The Girona players were angered at the decision, and rightly so.
The sending off was questionable and it changed the complexion of the game. Looking for the equalizer, Girona pressed high and Barca took advantage. Jordi Alba raced clear to set up the second goal, which effectively killed the game. If not for the red card decision, the final result could have been a different one.
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#4 Strong eleven brings Barcelona back to winning ways
Barcelona lost 2-0 against Sevilla on Wednesday in the Copa Del Rey quarter-final first leg. Ernesto Valverde rested numerous names for the game. The likes of Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi were not even in the squad, and Luis Suarez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Jordi Alba started the game on the bench.
All of them started against Girona and the difference was clear. Busquets was important as ever, dictating play from midfield. Alba was solid on the left, which shifted Nelson Semedo to his preferred right-back spot. Alba had one assist, on the end of which was Lionel Messi.
The Catalan giants were toothless against Sevilla, especially in the final third. Valverde can't afford to field such a team in the league, especially when Atletico Madrid are breathing down their neck. The importance of the key players was visible and more importantly, they delivered.
#3 Girona impress in final third despite the lack of goals
Coach Eusebio lined up Girona in a 3-5-2 formation, with Portu and Stuani as the attacking duo. The result was not bad, as they threatened in the final third. The goals were lacking, but there was plenty of attacking endeavor that went unrewarded.
Despite having less of the ball, Girona were on par with Barcelona in terms of attacking numbers. They took 13 shots compared to 15 by Barcelona and created nine chances compared to 12 from Barca. Portu was their best attacker, and he was a constant menace down the left side. Barcelona made more clearances than their opponents, which is another indicator of Girona's attacking threat.
Stuani and Pere Pons had great chances to score, but they failed to make them count. Marc-Andre ter Stegen was just as busy as Yassine Bounou, and both of them made four save apiece.
#2 Barcelona steal three points to maintain their lead
It is pretty tight at the top of LaLiga. Atletico Madrid won 2-0 yesterday against Getafe, which meant that they were just two points behind Barcelona. A win was needed to maintain the 5-point buffer, and the Catalans did just that. It wasn't easy, mind you.
Even though they took an early lead, Barcelona were far from comfortable throughout the match. Girona clinched a point when these two sides met back in September, and they threatened to take something again. However, Barcelona held on and emerged unscathed with all three points.
A lead of five points is by no means a big one, with the two sides still left to play against each other once. Barca will play Atletico in April, a fixture which will play a major role in the title race. If they want to maintain their lead till then, claiming gutsy victories like this one will be necessary.
#1 Semedo cementing the right-back spot?
Nelson Semedo and Sergi Roberto are the two right-backs at Barcelona, and the latter has seemed to have the edge. Roberto has started the major games for Ernesto Valverde but that could change in the coming weeks due to Semedo's recent performances.
The Portuguese is a superior player defensively and has been for a long time. But his attacking game has also picked up of late. He got into the box against Girona and opened the scoring with his first goal for the club. Semedo's dynamism and pace are handy on the right side, especially when Lionel Messi drifts centrally to vacate the flank.
After a tough first season in Spain, Semedo is finding his best form. Roberto has been culpable for one too many goals defensively, and Semedo's solidity must be welcome for Valverde. Even as a substitute, Roberto has played in midfield, which further enhances Semedo's case as the first-choice right-back.
