The Barça got the victory (3-5) in the last game of the year after a frenzied second half in which the local team came back two goals behind against the Plana Girona on the OK Connect. The culés saw how the Girona team turned the scoreboard and got ahead with less than 10 minutes to finish the game.
Edu Castro’s men, however, were able to turn the score around again and achieved victory thanks to a goal from Helder Nunes and doublets from João Rodrigues and Sergi Panadero. And they are more leaders after the draw on Saturday Lyceum.
Girona did not make things easy at Barça. Edu Castro’s team, who has reached 200 games as Barça’s first coach, came into the game eager to win the three points, imposing his personality and putting pressure on the locals to dominate the game. The Catalans insistently attacked the goal of Jaume Llaverola, but the success of the Igualadin saves made it very difficult for Barça to open the can.
With 54 seconds to go before the end of the first period, the ‘top scorer’ João Rodrigues managed to beat the local goalkeeper and overtake the Catalans on the scoreboard (min. 25, 0-1). With Barça finally ahead on the scoreboard, the second half looked more placid than the first. Even more so when João, converting a penalty, reached 20 goals in the League and doubled the difference in the electronic game (min. 31, 0-2).
But Ramon Benito’s team, however, did not lower their arms and managed to turn the scoreboard in just seven minutes. The first to beat Sergi Fernández’s goal was Gerard Pujol, who with a powerful shot brought the Girona team closer to the scoreboard (min. 36, 1-2). Then, a double from ‘Litus’ Sánchez with a shot inside the area (min. 40, 2-2) and with a swoop from behind the goal (min. 43, 2-3), advanced to the locals on the scoreboard .
The Barça reaction, however, was immediate and Helder Nunes tied the game a couple of minutes later (min. 45, 3-3). A few moments later, two goals in a row from Sergi Panadero, with a shot inside the area (min. 46, 3-4), first, and with a spoon shot (min. 46, 3-5), later, they sentenced the match. In this way, Barça closes 2021 with 12 victories in 12 games in the League.
DATASHEET
Girona, 3: Jaume Llaverola, Moi Aguirre, Gere Rovira, Raul Pelícano and Àlex Grau -initial five-, Marc Vázquez, Biel Nadal, Gerard Pujol and Carles Sánchez.
Barça, 5: Sergi Fernández, Matias Pascual, Sergi Panadero, João Rodrigues and Ignacio Alabart, -initial five- Pau Bargalló, Nil Roca, Sergi Llorca and Helder Nunes.
Goals: 0-1, João Rodrigues (min. 25); 0-2, João Rodrigues (penalty) (min. 31); Gerard Pujol (min. 36, 1-2); Litus Sánchez (min. 40, 2-2); Litus Sánchez (min. 43, 3-2); Helder Nunes (min. 45, 3-3); Sergi Panadero (min. 46, 3-4); Sergi Panadero (min. 46. 3-5).
Referees: Erik Rivas Martín and David Pedrola Valls. Fouls: 9-6.