Girona 0-2 Barcelona: Lionel Messi strikes as Barca reopen lead at top

Messi has nine goals in his last seven games for Barcelona

Lionel Messi scored his 26th goal of the season as Barcelona re-established their five-point lead at the top of La Liga with victory over 10-man Girona.

Barca saw their lead cut by Atletico Madrid's win over Levante on Saturday, but eased past neighbours Girona.

Nelson Semedo swept home the opener on 10 minutes, while Messi dinked in a lovely finish the second half.

Girona defender Bernardo was dismissed for two yellow cards in a match which could have been played in Miami, USA.

Relive Barcelona's win over Girona

Champions Barca had support from La Liga for the contest to be staged at the Hard Rock Stadium, but withdrew the proposal in December after the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) and players' union (AFE) objected.

Ernesto Valverde's side could have had a more comfortable margin of victory, but Girona goalkeeper Bono saved efforts from Messi and Luis Suarez.

Home side Girona had plenty of chances of their own, but former Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani could not find a way past Marc-Andre ter Stegen, being denied three times by the Germany international goalkeeper.

Barca face Sevilla in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

Line-ups Match Stats Live Text

Line-ups

Girona

13BonoBooked at 52mins

5Alcalá

2BernardoBooked at 51mins

15Ramírez LópezBooked at 69mins

24Porro

23GarcíaSubstituted forSoares de Pauloat 70'minutes

8Pons

6Granell NoguéSubstituted forPaikat 86'minutes

34Fernández

9Portugués ManzaneraSubstituted forLozanoat 80'minutes

7StuaniBooked at 89mins

Substitutes

1Iraizoz

4Ramalho

12Soares de Paulo

19Lozano

20Muniesa

35Paik

37Pachón

Barcelona

1ter Stegen

2Nélson Semedo

3Piqué

15LengletBooked at 31minsSubstituted forVermaelenat 77'minutes

18Alba

22VidalBooked at 37minsSubstituted forRamos de Oliveira Meloat 58'minutes

5BusquetsBooked at 43minsSubstituted forRobertoat 82'minutes

4Rakitic

10Messi

9Suárez

7Coutinho

Substitutes

6D Suárez

8Ramos de Oliveira Melo

13Cillessen

14Malcom

19Boateng

20Roberto

24Vermaelen

Referee:

Pablo González Fuertes

Attendance:

14,021

Match Stats

Home TeamGironaAway TeamBarcelona

Possession

Home36%

Away64%

Shots

Home13

Away15

Shots on Target

Home5

Away7

Corners

Home3

Away8

Fouls

Home18

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Girona 0, Barcelona 2.

Full TimePosted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Girona 0, Barcelona 2.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Yassine Bounou.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt saved. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Girona. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt blocked. Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Luis Suárez with a through ball.

Posted at 89'

Attempt blocked. Paik Seung-Ho (Girona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

BookingPosted at 89'

Cristhian Stuani (Girona) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Arthur (Barcelona).

Posted at 88'

Valery Fernández (Girona) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Coutinho (Barcelona).

Posted at 87'

Pedro Porro (Girona) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 86'

Attempt missed. Pere Pons (Girona) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Juanpe.

SubstitutionPosted at 86'

Substitution, Girona. Paik Seung-Ho replaces Álex Granell.

Posted at 84'

Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Cristhian Stuani (Girona).

Posted at 83'

Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Anthony Lozano (Girona).

Posted at 83'

Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Douglas Luiz (Girona).

SubstitutionPosted at 82'

Substitution, Barcelona. Sergi Roberto replaces Sergio Busquets.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona).

Posted at 81'

Pere Pons (Girona) wins a free kick on the left wing.

SubstitutionPosted at 80'

Substitution, Girona. Anthony Lozano replaces Portu.

Posted at 79'

Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Cristhian Stuani.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Yassine Bounou.

Posted at 78'

Attempt saved. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.

SubstitutionPosted at 77'

Substitution, Barcelona. Thomas Vermaelen replaces Clément Lenglet.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Yassine Bounou.

Posted at 77'

Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luis Suárez.

Posted at 75'

Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic following a fast break.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Luis Suárez (Barcelona).

Posted at 74'

Pedro Alcalá (Girona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Nélson Semedo (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Álex Granell (Girona).

Posted at 72'

Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Pedro Alcalá.

Posted at 72'

Attempt blocked. Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Nélson Semedo (Barcelona).

Posted at 71'

Valery Fernández (Girona) wins a free kick on the left wing.

SubstitutionPosted at 70'

Substitution, Girona. Douglas Luiz replaces Aleix García.

Show more updates

goal

Source: bbc.com