Girona 0-2 Barcelona: Semedo and Messi on his comeback do the business

Girona 0-2 Barcelona: Semedo and Messi on his comeback do the business

 Leo Messi marcó el segundo y último gol del conjunto azulgrana ante el Girona / | LaLiga

An open game was tilted Barcelona's way by Bernardo Espinosa's red card

It wasn’t easy, but derbies never are. With goals from Nelson Semedo and Lionel Messi, Barcelona edged past Girona and restored their five point lead at the top of La Liga.

MATCH FACTS
LaLiga Santander, Jornada 21

GIR

0 ________________ 2

FCB

LINE UP

Girona

Bono; Pedro Porro, Alcalá, Bernardo, Juanpe, Valery; Pere Pons, Aleix Garcia (Douglas Luiz, 69'), Granell (Paik, 85'); Portu ('Choco' Lozano, 80') y Stuani.

Barcelona

Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet (Vermaelen, 77'), Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Sergio Busquets (Sergi Roberto, 82'), Arturo Vidal (Arthur, 57'); Messi, Luis Suárez y Coutinho.

Goles

0-1 M.9 Semedo. 0-2 M.68 Messi.

Árbitro

González Fuertes (Asturiano). TA: Bernardo (29'), Lenglet (31'), Arturo Vidal (37'), Busquets (43'), Bernardo (51'), Bono (51'), Juanpe (68'). TR: Bernardo (51').

Incidencias

Partido de la jornada 21 de LaLiga Santander disputado en Montilivi.

Portugal defender Semedo opened the scoring after nine minutes, driving home after the ball broke to him in the box.

Philippe Coutinho could and should have doubled the lead but the struggling Brazilian was denied by Bono after a magical pass by Messi sent him through.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen played an important role for Barcelona, denying Cristhian Stuani, while Gerard Pique cleared a follow-up effort off the line from Pere Pons.

Girona were harshly sent down to 10 men when Bernardo Espinosa saw a second yellow for a soft foul on Suarez, but it didn’t stop the hosts from having a go of it.

Barca stopper Ter Stegen made two more saves from Stuani before Messi doubled the lead, chipping Bono after being set up by the excellent Jordi Alba.

Messi’s goal was his 19th of the league season in 19 games, cementing his position as the division’s top scorer.

Luis Suarez is next on 15 and he should have extended his tally too but was denied by Bono after Messi teed him up at the end.

Coutinho then missed a second one-on-one chance after Suarez sent him through, with no end in sight to the Brazilian’s struggle.