Barca’s youth takes no prisoners this season! Lamine Yamal with a brace already before the break, and then Dani Olmo and Pedri in the second period smashed Girona 4-1 and got revenge for the last season’s double defeat. Olmo’s goal came a minute and a half into the second half and definitely sealed Girona’s fate. The sub Cristhian Stuani netted the only goal for the home team ten minutes before the final blow.1 – At 17 years and 64 days old, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal 🇪🇸 has scored his first brace away from home for @FCBarcelona, his second overall after scoring it last February against Granada also in @LaLigaEN . Pairs.#Barcelona 💙❤#GironaBarça #Yamal pic.twitter.com/N9StbD9Im9— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 15, 2024 Barcelona were up for another meeting with their last season’s nightmare – Girona. Blaugrana’s Catalan neighbours beat them twice in the previous La Liga campaign, and the result was exact both times – 4-2. Still, Girona lost some crucial players during the latest transfer window, above all Savinho and Artem Dovbyk, who moved to Man City and Roma, respectively. Despite only winning one point in the initial two rounds, Michel’s team rose, recording two consecutive clean-sheet triumphs over Osasuna and Sevilla.Real struggle for Madrid at Real: Two penalties save Los Blancos against the namesakeOn the other hand, Barca top the table with a maximum of 12 points and have a great motive to get revenge on today’s rivals. The youngster, Marc Casado, once more got the chance in the midfield from the first minute, while Hansi Flick’s crew’s biggest strength was – as usual – the attacking trio of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski.The away team immediately took control of the match, pressing Girona’s defence as much as possible. Yamal had the first attempt of the game after five minutes, but his first touch volley went straight into Paulo Gazzaniga’s arms. Lewandowski’s 15th-minute header had the same destiny. Despite Barca’s constant pressing, Michel’s squad was still keen on starting the attacks from the back instead of relying on long balls.After half an hour, that cost them a goal! The centre-back David Lopez wanted to dribble the ball in his own box, and Yamal used his recklessness to steal it and put it behind Gazzaniga’s back for 1-0! The same player made it 2-0 in the 37th minute, using the deflection after Raphinha’s free-kick cross! That goal seemed to have woken up Michel’s crew, which first had a massive chance a minute before the break through Bryan Gil, whose close-range effort was superbly stopped by Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Only seconds later, Girona were awarded a pen due to Inigo Martinez’s handball, but the decision was changed after the VAR intervention.Around 80 seconds after the ref’s initial whistle after the break, Dani Olmo sealed Girona’s fate, using Jules Kounde’s fantastic through ball and smashing it home for 3-0! In the 56th minute, Gazzaniga stopped Lewandowski from netting his fifth goal of the season as well as Yamal from completing his first career hat-trick two minutes later.After an hour, Olmo had to leave the pitch due to an injury, erasing the smile from Barca fans’ faces. Eric Garcia replaced him and, at the same time, Hector Fort entered for Pau Cubarsi. Flick’s idea was clear – resting players for the Champions League opening match against Monaco on Thursday. Blaugrana’s young duo – Casado and Pedri – brought the fourth goal to the team in the 64th minute, with the older Pedri being the scorer.At that point, everyone at the Estadio Municipal de Montilivi was aware of the situation and Girona’s inevitable defeat, including the home team’s boss, Michel, who started subbing key players in order to rest them for the club’s historic Champions League debut at Parc des Princes on Wednesday. Still, the subs brought Girona the goal ten minutes before the end! Yaser Asprilla initiated the action, Portu assisted to the experienced Uruguayan Cristhian Stuani, who made it 4-1.In the 85th minute, the sub Ferran Torres was sent off for stepping on the rival, making his manager Flick fuming. Interestingly, this was Barca’s first red card since February. Still, the winner was determined already at the break and with that the German tactician could have been satisfied altogether. With the maximum number of points in five La Liga rounds, Blaugrana top the league, four points ahead from Real Madrid and Villareal, while Girona sit in the seventh spot.LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 5Friday Betis – Leganes 2-0 (0-0)/Ezzalzouli 74, Roque 86/Saturday Mallorca – Villarreal 1-2 (0-1)/Albiol 57 og – Costa 27, Perez 90+4/Espanyol – Alaves 3-2 (1-1)/Puado 21, 56, 63 pen – Conechny 35, Tenaglia 68/Sevilla – Getafe 1-0 (1-0)/Navas 23/Real Sociedad – Real Madrid 0-2 (0-0)/Vinicius Jr 58 pen, Mbappe 75 pen/Sunday Celta – Valladolid 3-1 (2-0)/Alvarez 22, Iglesias 35, Douvikas 90+1 – Moro 50/Girona – Barcelona 1-4 (0-2)/Stuani 80 – Yamal 30, 37, Olmo 47, Pedri 64/19.30: (4.00) Las Palmas (3.50) Ath.Bilbao (2.05)22.00: (1.35) Atl.Madrid (4.80) Valencia (10.0)Monday 22.00: (2.25) Rayo Vallecano (3.20) Osasuna (3.70)***odds are subject to change***
