Girona vs Barcelona score, result, highlights as Pedri goal earns 1-0 win for La Liga leaders

Simon Borg

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Girona vs Barcelona score, result, highlights as Pedri goal earns 1-0 win for La Liga leaders image

Barcelona escaped another close call with a narrow 1-0 victory at Girona to extend their lead atop the La Liga table to six points ahead of second-place Real Madrid's match on Sunday.

A Pedri goal in the second half is all that Barcelona needed, although it took some hectic defending in the final 15 minutes to see out the result as Girona threw attackers forward in search of an equalizer.

A Ronald Araujo header clearance near the Barcelona goal line, two big saves by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and a howler of a miss by Girona's Ivan Martin allowed Barcelona to come away with all three points in the end.

It was the third straight 1-0 victory for Barcelona without star forward Robert Lewandowski who sat out to serve the third match of a three-game suspension. The Blaugrana were also without suspended forward Ferran Torres, with Ansu Fati deputising as the central striker.

An Ousmane Demebele first-half injury made for an even more troublesome outlook for Barcelona on a cold night in Girona. But his replacement, Pedri, was at the far post to finish a patented Barcelona passing play to give his team the lead they would not relinquish.

A critical three-games-in-eight-days stretch in La Liga play continues for Barcelona with a trip to face Real Betis on Wednesday before coming home to take on Sevilla on Sunday. They'll have Lewandowski back for both matches. 

MORE: Barcelona's fixtures and results in 2022/23

Girona vs Barcelona final score

  1H 2H Final
Girona 0 0 0
Barcelona 0 1 1

Goals:
BAR — Pedri (Jordi Alba) — 61st min.

Lineups:

Girona (4-5-1, left to right): 13-Gazzaniga (GK) — 4-Arnau, 15-Juanpe (33-Roca, 81'), 2-Bernardo, 3-Miguel — 20-Yan Couto (12-Villa, 70'), 14-Aleix Garcia, 18-Romeu, 21-Herrera (11-Valery, 60'), 17-Riquelme (23-Martin, 81') — 9-Castellanos (7-Stuani, 70')

Barcelona (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Ter Stegen (GK) — 23-Kounde, 4-Araujo, 24-Eric, 17-Alonso (18-Alba, 46') — 30-Gavi, 5-Busquets, 21-De Jong — 22-Raphinha (19-Kessie, 88'), 10-Fati (28-Balde, 81'), 7-Dembele (8-Pedri, 26')

Barcelona can't put matches away

It's a recurring theme for Barcelona this season. When they take the lead, they find it difficult to keep up the attacking intensity and they inevitably let the opponent back into the match. It was the same script against 10-man Real Sociedad in the midweek Copa del Rey quarterfinal. They might be at the top of the table, but you can't help but feel that Barcelona are still vulnerable, though the mere six goals conceded in 18 league matches tells a very different story on paper.

Dembele injury worries

Ousmane Dembele is the last player any Barcelona supporter wants to see go down to injury given the influence he has on his team's attack when he's beating defenders on his best days. But his manager confirmed that "there is an injury, I think there's an injury. It's a pity because he's one of the key players for us. He felt an injury in his quad." Here he is limping as he left the stadium. We'll see how long he'll be out.

Raphinha struggling for Barcelona

The Brazilian has yet to hit his stride for his new club and the questions will persist as to whether he's a player cut out for a team on the level of Barcelona. The $63 million spent on his transfer from Leeds says that he should be a difference-maker, but outside of rare flashes, he hasn't helped his new club in a way that justifies the price tag. His two goals and three assists in 17 La Liga matches is likely not what the club had in mind as far as the level of production. If Dembele is out for an extended period, Barcelona will need Raphinha to pick up the slack.

Girona vs Barcelona live updates, highlights from La Liga

Final: Girona 0-1 Barcelona

Final: Barcelona somehow hang on with Girona pouring on the pressure. A draw felt like it would've been the fair result to reward the home side which did more in the final 15 minutes than Barcelona did for the entire match.

Barcelona will take the three points without apology as their title quest continues. They managed three straight victories during Robert Lewandowski's three-match suspension.

Meanwhile, Girona look like a team that has what it takes to survive, though defensive miscues, and a lack of finishing will surely keep things suspenseful until the end.

94th min.: Red card Girona. Manager Michel is sent off for protesting a decision.

90th min.: Six minutes of stoppage time!

88th min.: SUB Barcelona. Franck Kessie is on for Raphinha. Barcelona is in defense mode now.

86th min.: Chance Girona! Ivan Martin was wide open in front of the Barcelona goalkeeper, but his first time shot goes way wide! It was the chance Girona was looking for. Girona have been all over Barcelona in the last five minutes.

81st min.: SUBS for both teams. Alejandro Balde comes on for Barcelona's Ansu Fati. Girona makes two changes: Ivan Martin for Riquelme, and Joel Roca for centre-back Juanpe.

75th min.: Yellow card Girona. Arnau gets it for a foul from behind on Jordi Alba. Arnau will be suspended for the next match for yellow card accumulation.

73rd min.: Chance Girona! What a defensive clearance by Ronaldo Araujo to stop a sure header goal from Girona. It leads to a corner kick and there's a penalty shout but the referee doesn't go for it.

But replays showed that Eric Garcia had his arm wrapped around Cristhian Stuani's waist. That looked like a penalty.

70th min.: SUBS for Girona. Two attacking changes for the home team. Cristhian Stuani is on for Taty Castellanos who was running hard all game. Also, Yan Couto picked up an ankle injury and Toni Villa comes on for him wide right.

65th min.: Girona goal disallowed. Arnau scores it, but he was clearly offside on the pass from Taty Castellanos.

61st min.: Goal Barcelona! Pedri puts it home at the far post after a nice move down the left by Jordi Alba, who sends it across the six-yard box.

60th min.: SUB Girona. Valery Fernandez is on for Yangel Herrera. Girona is adding a sprinkle of attacking flair.

58th min.: Chance Girona. It's a rare attack, but once again it came with a ball down the right for Yan Couto. Except the Brazilian was offside. A few minutes before, Girona center forward Valentin Castellanos was busy defending in his own half. The home team are committed to the defensive effort today.

50th min.: Yellow card Barcelona. This time it's Gavi's turn for a sliding tackle on Girona right-back Arnau Martinez. It was a soft yellow card.

48th min.: Raphinha hasn't started this second half any better with a wild blast high over the bar.

46th min.: Second half is underway with no subs for Girona, but Barcelona bring on Jordi Alba for Marcos Alonso at left-back.

Halftime: Girona 0-0 Barcelona

Halftime: There were more yellow cards (3) than total shots on target in the first half (2). That tells you all you need to know. There's not a ton of creativity or risk-taking happening by either side. We'll see how much the teams open up in the second half.

45th min.: Yellow card Barcelona. Pedri can't believe a Girona handball was not called by the referee, and he gets a caution card for his troubles (it was a clear infraction, but the referee didn't see it).

45th min.: Yellow card Girona. Taty Castellanos goes into the referee's book for a high arm on Sergio Busquets as they both rose up for a header. The elbow wasn't pointed or it could've been a worse outcome for the ex-NYCFC player.

43rd min.: Yellow card Barcelona. Ansu Fati receives it because he didn't pull out of a sliding challenge on the goalkeeper for a ball that Fati had no chance to reach. The contact was minimal, but it was reckless.

41st min.: Chance Barcelona. The ball falls to Pedri in the box, and he controls and takes a weak shot that Girona 'keeper Paulo Gazzaniga easily stops.

40th min.: No chances to speak of. Both teams are imprecise with their passing, spaces are limited, and the cold is not helping. The loss of Dembele is a big one for Barcelona because he was someone who could win 1-on-1 battles and create openings.

29th min.: Chance Barcelona. Another giveaway by the Girona backline (this time by Juanpe), and Ansu Fati fires a shot high. It's those types of errors that have cost Girona dearly this season.

26th min.: SUB Barcelona. Pedri is in for Dembele, and it's Gavi who shifts to take his place wide left. Meanwhile, Pedri settles in as the right central midfielder for his 100th match in Barcelona colours.

24th min.: And with Raphinha struggling to make a difference, Ousmane Dembele has an issue with his left foot. He's looking at the bench and Pedri is warming up. He's asking for a sub.

20th min.: Raphinha is not liking the cold. His latest corner kick was poor, and Girona's left-back Miguel Gutierrez has owned him on that flank.

15th min.: Chance Barcelona. Girona 'keeper Paulo Gazzaniga gives the ball away in his own box (!!!) as Girona tries to play out of the back. He recovers to block Ousmane Dembele's shot on the left side.

In the meantime, enjoy this nutmeg by Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez on Barcelona's Raphinha.

10th min.: This match is going just as you'd have imagined. Barcelona owning possession, but they're dulled by the cold and Girona are the more lively side. The only issue is that the home team can't keep it for long.

3rd min.: Chance Girona. It's a quick transition for the home team and Brazilian Yan Couto, who was a surprise inclusion in the lineup, makes the run down the right side of the Barcelona box. But the move is thwarted for a corner. There was a penalty shout, but no infraction on the play.

1st min.: Barcelona kick off wearing the yellow kits. Raphinha is playing wide right with Ousmane Dembele forced to occupy the left wing position.

5 mins from kickoff: Both teams are out on the field. Beautiful choreography from the main stand at Girona's Montilivi Stadium. It's cold with the wind chill making it feel like 2 degrees Celsius (35 degrees Farenheit).

15 mins from kickoff: Based on the sounds during warmups, there should be a cracking atmosphere for this match.

35 mins from kickoff: This is the last match that Barcelona will have to do without Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, who are both out due to suspension. Lewandowski had a three-game ban to serve, while Torres had to sit out two matches.

65 mins from kickoff: Lineups are out. Ansu Fati confirmed as the center forward / false nine, and Pedri will be on the bench. Girona go with a defensive-minded 4-5-1 formation. 

75 mins from kickoff: Here's a look at Girona's stadium (Estadio Montilivi) which seats just under 12,000 people. According to Spain's statistical institute, Girona's population is just under 800,000.

120 mins from kickoff: Since losing 3-1 at Real Madrid on October 16, Barcelona have won seven of their eight La Liga matches, keeping clean sheets in five of those victories.

130 mins from kickoff: Here's what the Montilivi pitch looked like this morning. Low overnight temperatures meant it was frozen to start the day. They expect it to be fine for play as the temperature rises throughout the day.

140 mins from kickoff: The match is a Catalan derby and Barcelona haven't tasted defeat in one of those for some time.

150 mins from kickoff: Barcelona will be donning new threads for the Catalan derby.

MORE: Updated La Liga standings | La Liga top scorers

Girona vs Barcelona lineups

Girona manager Michel will have to do without one of his best defenders as centre-back Santi Bueno sits out due to suspension. He also opts to field a right-back at right wing (Yan Couto) instead of the more attack-minded Ivan Martin or Toni Villa who are both on the bench. Brazilian attacker Reinier, defensive midfielder Ibrahima Kebe, and centre-back David Lopez are still out injured.

Girona starting lineup (4-5-1, left to right): 13-Paulo Gazzaniga (GK) — 4-Arnau Martinez, 15-Juanpe, 2-Bernardo Espinosa, 3-Miguel Gutierrez — 20-Yan Couto, 14-Aleix Garcia, 18-Oriol Romeu, 21-Yangel Herrera, 17-Rodrigo Riquelme — 9-Valentin 'Taty' Castellanos

Girona subs (12): 1-Juan Carlos (GK), 26-Toni Fuidias (GK), 16-Javi Hernandez, 25-Alexander Callens, 34-Biel Farres, 12-Toni Villa, 24-Borja Garcia, 7-Cristhian Stuani, 23-Ivan Martin, 11-Valery Fernandez, 8-Viktor Tsygankov, 33-Joel Roca

Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres are out for Barcelona, serving the final match in their respective suspension. Teenage academy player Angel Alarcon was named to the squad in their absence. Pedri is in the squad against Girona, but he will not start since he's coming off taking a knock to the knee in the midweek Copa del Rey match. 

Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) — 23-Jules Kounde, 4-Ronald Araujo, 24-Eric Garcia, 17-Marcos Alonso — 30-Gavi, 5-Sergio Busquets, 21-Frenkie De Jong — 7-Ousmane Dembele, 10-Ansu Fati, 22-Raphinha

Barcelona subs (11): 13-Inaki Pena (GK), 31-Ander Astralaga (GK), 2-Hector Bellerin, 20-Sergi Roberto, 18-Jordi Alba, 15-Andreas Christensen, 28-Alejandro Balde, 19-Franck Kessie, 8-Pedri, 32-Pablo Torre, 38-Angel Alarcon

MORE: Latest Barcelona transfer news

Girona vs Barcelona live stream, TV channel

The match takes place at the sold-out Estadio Municipal Montilivi, where Girona have lost just two of their nine matches this season (vs. Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad). They have not suffered defeat at home since October 2.

This is only the third trip to the stadium for Barcelona, who have won on each of their previous two visits.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
Australia Sun, Jan. 8 02:15 AET  — Optus Sport
Canada Sat, Jan. 7 10:15 ET TSN4 TSN GO, TSN site/app
Hong Kong Sat, Jan. 7 23:15 HKT Now Sports 2 Now Player, M Plus site/app
India Sat, Jan. 7 20:45 IST Sports18 Sports18, JioTV
Malaysia Sat, Jan. 7 23:15 MYT beIN Sports beIN Sports Connect, sooka
New Zealand Sun, Jan. 8 04:15 NZST — beIN Sports Connect
Singapore Sat, Jan. 7 23:15 SST beIN Sports beIN Sports Connect,
Star Hub Sports+
UK Sat, Jan. 7 15:15 BST  — LaLigaTV
USA Sat, Jan. 7 10:15 ET  ESPN Deportes fuboTV, ESPN+

UK: The match will be exclusively available on LaLigaTV.

USA: The Girona vs. Barcelona match will be televised on ESPN Deportes which is streamed on fuboTV. It will also be streamed in English and Spanish on ESPN+.

Canada: TSN holds TV and streaming rights for La Liga in Canada. The Girona vs. Barcelona match will be televised on TSN4 and streaming on TSN's online platforms. 

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream all La Liga matches live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.