Pedri gives the win and the winter ‘title’ to Barça against Girona
The Canarian player was once again decisive with his goal on the day he turned 100 games with the culé shirt
MADRID, 28 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barcelona won (0-1) by the minimum this Saturday against Girona on matchday 19 of LaLiga Santander, thanks to Pedri’s solitary goal in the second half of the match, on the day he celebrated his 100th game as a culé player, to also give the winter ‘title’ to the blaugrana team.
The team led by Xavi Hernández closed the first round of LaLiga with the continuity of their best feelings at the beginning of the year to put 6 points in between with respect to Real Madrid, their immediate rival in the table and who will not play until Sunday against the Royal Society.
As happened in the previous league game against Getafe, the Canarian player scored the only goal of the match, thus adding Xavi’s team to the third consecutive match won by the minimum, after the quarterfinal duel of the Copa del Rey against the Real Sociedad last Wednesday.
In Montilivi, the Blaugrana coach recovered the extremes in attack, with Dembélé and Raphinha accompanying Ansu Fati. A determined bet that did not work out when before half an hour into the game the French striker, who was having one of his best moments since his arrival at the club, had to leave injured. Without Robert Lewandowski still sanctioned, nor ‘Dembélé’, Barça needed a successful alternative.
Pedri entered the field of play and although the control in the center of the field was noted, the defensive solidity of the locals reduced the feeling of danger to a minimum. A good first half for Míchel’s men, who supported the League leader at times, somewhat thick in attack and defense.
After the break, the script for both teams remained clear. Girona with a well-planted defensive block and those from Barcelona turning all their game into the rival field. It was precisely that direct football that allowed them to find the prize of the goal after the game hour. Pedri was key again with a goal of merit that culminated by pushing a cross from Jordi Alba into the back of the net.
Although Barcelona tried to impose control football from there to take control of the match and reduce the danger, the impetus of Míchel’s men began to put the Catalans in serious trouble. Iván Martín had the clearest shot with a header inside the small area, but his shot went outside of him.
Without giving up on their efforts, Girona threw in the rest to try to achieve a tie that did not come to the end and ended with the expulsion of the local coach due to the protests. In the end, Ter Stegen once again saved his team by blocking a dangerous center that came close to Stuani, powerless due to the lack of success.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: GIRONA FC, 0 – FC BARCELONA, 1 (0-0, at halftime).
–LINE-UPS.
GIRONA FC: Gazzaniga; Arnau Martínez, Bernardo, Juanpe (Roca, min.81), Miguel Gutiérrez; Oriol Romeu, Yangel Herrera (Valery, min.59); Aleix García, Riquelme (Martín, min.81), Yan Couto (Toni, min.71); Taty Castellanos (Stuani, min.70).
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Alonso (Jordi Alba, min.46); Gavi, Busquets, De Jong; Dembélé (Pedri, 24 mins), Ansu Fati (Balde, 81 mins) and Raphinha (Kessie, 88 mins).
–GOL:.
0-1, minute 61. Pedri.
–REFEREE: Muñiz Ruiz (C. Gallego). He admonished Ansu Fati (min.43), Pedri (min.48), Gavi (min.49) by FC Barcelona, and Castellanos (min.44), Arnau (min.74) by Girona.
–STADIUM: Montilivi.