Barcelona came to the party with the need to get three points to strengthen its leadership in LaLiga, especially after the Madrid Atletic tie (1-1 against Espanyol) and a somewhat controversial victory of Real Madrid (3-2 in front of Leganés). For his part, the Girona was trying to give the bell to approach the European posts, but his initial strategy could not stop the soft torrent. With a final result of 4-1, Barcelona stayed at the top with 66 points, three ahead of Real Madrid (63) and nine from Atlético (57), although the mattressers have one more match to play.
Initial alignments
- Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Koundé, Araujo, Iñigo Martínez (Cubarsí, min. 81), Gerard Martín; Eric García (Balde, min. 81), Pedri (Pablo Torre, min. 87); Lamine Yamal, Fermín López (De Jong, min. 66), Gavi (Ferran Torres, min. 66); Lewandowski.
- Banking: Iñaki Peña (P.s.), Domínguez (P.s.), Fort, Casadó, Raphinha, Pau Víctor, Olmo, Christensen.
- Lows: Ter Stegen, Ansu Fati.
- Girona (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Alejandro Francés, Blind, Krejci, Miguel Gutiérrez; Arnau Martínez (Misehouy, min. 80), Arthur (Solís, min. 71), Yangel Herrera, Yáser Asprilla (Portu, min. 59); Tsygankov (Stuani, min. 71), Danjuma.
- Banking: Juan Carlos (P.s.), Morante (P.s.), David López, Juanpe, Jastin, Reinier, Iker Almena, Valery.
- Lows: Abel Ruiz (lesionate).
Barcelona
- Tactical provision: Hansi Flick maintained his usual 4-2-3-1, with Eric García as a defensive pivot next to Pedri, allowing Gavi and Fermin López to join the attack. High pressure was key, with 78% possession in the first half and a heat map concentrated in the rival field.
- Offensive phase: Barcelona had a fairly active match, generating 18 shots, of which 6 went to the door, with a total of 2.9 expected goals (xG). Lamine Yamal’s mobility through the right band and Lewandowski’s ability to demarcate were key in the game. The first goal came in the 43rd minute, when Krejci scored an autogol after a center in Yamal. Lewandowski fought a double (min. 61 and 77), thanks to the assistance of Fermin and De Jong, and Ferran Torres sealed the goleada (min. 86) with a pass by Gerard Martin.
- Defensive phase: The high pressure of Barcelona was outstanding, recovering 12 balls in rival field. However, Araujo showed certain doubts, being overcome by Danjuma in the goal of Girona (min. 53). Iñigo Martínez and Koundé were more solid, although the team suffered in rapid transitions after the draw.
- Tactical Key: The entry of De Jong and Ferran Torres in the 66th minute changed the game. De Jong brought control and assistance after a large individual move, while Ferran sealed the score with a goal. High pressure, highlighted by X users as one of the best in the season, suffocated Girona.
Girona
- Tactical provision:Michel raised a 4-2-3-1 with the intention of counter-coupling, relying on the speed of Danjuma and Tsygankov. However, the lack of solidity in the middle allowed Barcelona to dominate.
- Offensive phase: Girona generated 7 shots, 2 by door, with 1.1 xG. His only goal came after a great play by Daley Blind, who stole in the middle and attended Danjuma (min. 53). The Dutchman was the most dangerous, but the team diluted after 2-1.
- Defensive phase: The defense of Girona suffered with the mobility of Barcelona. Krejci, in addition to the autogol, had problems with Lewandowski, while Yangel Herrera and Arthur were unable to stop the soft transitions. Gazzaniga avoided a larger goleada with several merit stops.
- Tactical Key: The changes that Michel made (Portu, Solís, Stuani, Misehouy) aimed to give the game more speed, but they arrived a little late and failed to alter the party’s dynamics. The high pressure of Girona in the second half allowed them to empatar momentarily, but also left spaces that Barcelona knew how to take advantage of.
goals and assistance
- 1-0 (min. 43): Autogol de Ladislav Krejci after a center of Lamine Yamal.
- 1-1 (min. 53): Arnaut Danjuma, assistance of Daley Blind.
- 2-1 (min. 61): Robert Lewandowski, assistance of Fermin López.
- 3-1 (min. 77): Robert Lewandowski, assistance from Frenkie de Jong.
- 4-1 (min. 86): Ferran Torres, assistance of Gerard Martin.
MVP of the Party
Frenkie from Jong was the MVP of the meeting. He entered the 66th minute and revolutionized the match with its quality. His play at 3-1, a driving from his own field with a spectacular twist and precise assistance to Lewandowski, was key to sentencing the match. In addition, it provided control and solidity in the middle, with 92% accuracy in passes and 3 recoverys.
Scores of Players
- Barcelona:
- Szczesny: 6.5 – Without much work, but he couldn’t do anything on Danjuma’s goal.
- Koundé: 7 – Solid in defense, even though an out-of-game annulled took off a goal.
- Araujo: 6 – Flojo in the goal of Girona, overcome by Danjuma.
- Iñigo Martínez: 7 – Insurance in court, although he had a scare with a possible criminality.
- Gerard Martin: 7.5 – Great match, with a assistance to Ferran.
- Eric García: 8 – Bright as pivot, with 5 recoveries.
- Pedri: 7.5 – Great game vision, although it came out in the final stage.
- Lamine Yamal: 8 – Provoked the autogol and was a constant danger.
- Fermin López: 7.5 – He attended Lewandowski and fought every ball.
- Gavi: 7 – Much intensity, but less influential in attack.
- Lewandowski: 8.5 – Double and constant threat.
- Substitutes:
- From Jong: 9 – MVP, changed the game.
- Ferran Torres: 8 – Golazo to close the marker.
- Cubarsi: 6.5 – No complications.
- Balde: 6.5 – He brought freshness.
- Pablo Torre: 6 – Little time.
- Girona:
- Gazzaniga: 7 – Avoided a larger gorilla with several stops.
- Alexander French: 5.5 – Overtaken by Yamal.
- Blind: 6.5 – He attended Danjuma, but suffered back.
- Krejci: 4 – Autogol and defensive errors.
- Miguel Gutiérrez: 6 – He tried to join the attack, but without success.
- Arnau Martínez: 5.5 – Overwhelmed by Gavi.
- Arthur: 5 – Lost in the middle.
- Yangel Herrera: 5.5 – A lot of effort, but little impact.
- Yáser Asprilla: 5 – Flojo, replaced soon.
- Tsygankov: 5.5 – A dangerous shot, but little more.
- Danjuma: 7 – The best of Girona, marked the goal.
- Substitutes:
- Portu: 6 – He brought some spark.
- Solis: 5.5 – No incidence.
- Stuani: 5.5 – He was late.
- Misehouy: 5 – No time.
Arbitrary and VAR polyester
The party, led by Juan Luis Pulido Santana with Figueroa Vázquez in the VAR, was marked by several controversial decisions that generated outrage in Barcelona:
- Penalti No Pitado a Fermín López (min. 10):
- Description: Fermín López fell in the area after a contact with Yáser Asprilla in the area line. Pulido Santana pointed out missing outside, but the VAR asked him to review for a possible penalti. After the review, incomprehensibly, he failed to attack Fermin, accusing him of simulation.
- Impact: The decision ignored Barcelona. Iturralde González, in SER, said: “It is a clear criminality, the contact is evident and is on the line. The VAR and the referee were seriously wrong.” The Barcelona protested angryly, and Flick mentioned it at a press conference.
- Possible Penalty by Push to Lamine Yamal (min. 25):
- Description: Yangel Herrera pushed Yamal in the area, but the referee let go and the VAR did not intervene. The images show a clear contact on the young man’s back.
- Impact: The graph of the Olympic Lluís Companys exploded, and in Movistar+ it was pointed out that “it was a reviewable action.” Barcelona felt he was denied another clear criminality.
- Koundé (min. 38):
- Description: Koundé scored a goal after a córner, but the VAR annulled him by an out-of-play millimeter. The decision was correct, but it generated debate as tight as the line.
- Impact: Although the decision was fair, it fed the narrative of an arbitration against Barcelona, especially after the controversy of Real Madrid-Leganés.
Post-Partido statements
- Hansi Flick (Barcelona): “We have played a great game, we dominate from the beginning and deserve the victory. High pressure was excellent, and the changes gave us the final control. I don’t want to talk much about the referee, but Fermin’s criminality was clear. They hurt us, but the team showed character.”
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona): “I feel great physically, the numbers show it. I work as when I was 21 years old, and I want to follow many more years. The team is in a great moment, and this victory gives us confidence for what comes.”
- Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona): “I came in eager to help the team. I’m happy for attendance and how the game came out. We are a very strong team right now.”
- Michel (Girona): “The Barcelona was superior, we must recognize it. We matched and had options, but their quality beat us. I will not talk about the referee, but they also have their complaints.”
- Arnaut Danjuma: “We made a good effort in the second part, but Barcelona has a lot of quality. My goal gave us hope, but it was not enough.”
Covers of World Sports Journals
- Spain:
- Brand brand: “Barça intratable! Goleada al Girona and consolidated leadership (4-1)”.
- AS: “Lewandowski leads the soft party: 4-1 to Girona with arbitration controversy.”
- World of Sports: “The Barça takes root in Girona and strikes LaLiga (4-1).”
- Sport: “Pads on the way! The Barça crushes Girona with a star Lewandowski.”
- International:
- L’Équipe (France): “Le Barça écrase Gérone et s’envole en Liga (4-1)”.
- The Guardian (United Kingdom): “Barcelona thrash Girona 4-1 to strengthen LaLiga lead”.
- ESPN (Global): “Lewandowski’s brace powers Barcelona to a 4-1 rout over Girona”.
- Olé (Argentina): “Barça demoledor! He scored 4-1 to Girona and settled on the top.”
Extended Analysis
Barcelona showed a clear superiority in front of a Girona which, despite a courageous start in the second half, failed to keep pace. The intense pressure of the blaugranas, considered one of the best of the season, drowned Girona from the beginning, causing mistakes like the Krejci autogol. The entry of De Jong and Ferran Torres in the second time was crucial to change the course of the party, with the Dutch providing quality and the Spanish sealing the victory with a goal.
For their part, Girona showed quality flashes thanks to Danjuma, but their lack of defensive solidity and the inability to maintain the tie were billed. Michel tried to make adjustments with offensive changes, but Barcelona had already taken full control of the game. Arbitral decisions, especially the unmarked criminality to Fermin, revived the discussion on uneven arbitration in LaLiga, a burning issue after the party between Real Madrid and Leganés.
With this result, Barcelona takes a firm step towards the title, showing a level of play that, as the international media indicate, seems unstoppable. However, the arbitral decisions continue to generate controversy, and the Flick team will have to maintain this level against direct rivals such as the Atlético de Madrid on the next day of the Copa del Rey.
