Barca Beat Girona at the Montilivi, Pedri Scores on His 100th Appearance

Following their Copa del Rey victory vs Real Sociedad, Xavi Hernandez's men registered yet another 1-0 win against Míchel's Girona FC at the Estadi Montilivi.

It is their third consecutive 1-0 win across all competitions and the visitors were awarded all 3 points last night as they continue to hold their place atop La Liga. 

In an important league fixture that demanded Xavi rest some of the key players- Barcelona put up a mediocre display and yet came off with all 3 points, thanks to the only goal of the match scored by Pedri Gonzalez. 

The game saw Marcos Alonso start at LB and Joules Kounde at RB, with Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo holding the fortress at Centre Back. 

Barcelona donned their new 4th kit of the season

Xavi deployed a midfield of De Jong-Busquets-Gavi but had to bring on Pedri for Ousmane Dembele at the 25th minute, after the Frenchman suffered an anterior rectus injury in his left thigh.

Dembele will supposedly be out for an estimated 3/4 week depending on the swiftness of his recovery. The French winger has been substantial for the Catalans this season and his absence in the coming games will have to be filled in by either Raphinha or Fati down the right flank.

And into the back of the net...

Although it was the home team that had surged in with intensity into the Blaugrana box during the initial moments of the game, the visitors remained the better side for the entirety of 90 minutes, with the only goal of the fixture coming a minute after the hour mark. 

Pedri Gonzalez's goal of the game came from a well worked sequence of play from Barcelona as Jordi Alba placed a low cross at the face of the goal and the Spaniard tucked it home past Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

This marked Pedri's 100th appearance in a Blaugrana shirt - almost poetic that he should come on by chance to score the decisive goal of the game to mark the occasion. 

Euipo!

This victory send Barcelona 6 points ahead of second place Real Madrid, as pressure builds up on the Los Blancos in their tonight's League fixture vs Real Sociedad. 

Will Real Madrid clinch another win to bring down the point difference to 3 or have Barcelona managed to bury them 6 points behind atop La Liga? That, we will find out tonight. 

Editor's Desk  | A.Ash ✎