Barcelona and Girona faced off in the inaugural Catalan derby of the season on Saturday afternoon, delivering a match that proved to be more competitive than anticipated.
Although Hansi Flick’s squad was struggling with two consecutive defeats, Girona was expected to be an easier opponent due to their poor form this season.
However, the visitors took advantage of Barcelona’s high defensive line multiple times and were unfortunate not to take the lead after leveling the score against Pedri’s initial goal.
After the match evened out at 1-1, both teams continued to create opportunities, but neither could convert. In truth, Girona had the edge in chances, while Barcelona’s defense appeared chaotic once more.
Just when it seemed all hope was lost, Ronald Araujo scored in stoppage time, clinching a late victory for the hosts and ensuring a successful return from the international break.
Here are the player ratings from the match between Barcelona and Girona, which ended 2-1 in favor of the home team.
Wojciech Szczesny: 7
The seasoned goalkeeper often found himself isolated by a disorganized defense while dealing with Girona’s dangerous counterattacks. Although many attempts went astray, he made several crucial saves to keep his team in contention.
Alejandro Balde: 6
The left-back made strong attacking runs and formed good partnerships with Marcus Rashford on the flank. However, he struggled defensively at various points. While reasonably effective in possession, the final product was lacking.
Eric Garcia: 5.5
Garcia partnered with Pau Cubarsi and performed well with ball distribution, but he struggled with the offside trap and looked overwhelmed when facing counterattacks.
Pau Cubarsi: 5.5
Cubarsi was instrumental defensively and in ball progression, but he faced difficulties handling Girona’s swift counterattacks and long balls over the top. He was marking Axel Witsel when the latter scored a bicycle kick that counted despite being disallowed for a foul.
Jules Kounde: 5
Kounde performed decently in defense yet made multiple errors that facilitated Girona’s counterattacks. He was frequently caught out of position, requiring him to sprint back to defend.
Marc Casado: 6
The La Masia product showed solid distribution but failed to provide adequate defensive support to counter the opposition’s breakaways, even as he enabled Pedri to advance farther forward than usual, linking well with the midfield.
Frenkie de Jong: 8
The Dutch midfielder was vital in maintaining possession against Girona’s press and effectively transitioned the ball to the forwards. He paired well with Yamal and almost scored with a volley, which was saved. He provided the key assist for Araujo’s late winner.
Pedri: 8
Despite making a few individual errors, the Ballon d’Or nominee was among Barcelona’s better players, showcasing his ability to weave through Girona’s defenders for a spectacular goal.
Toni Fernandez: 6
The young talent had an unexpected starting role and showed promise in tight situations, linking effectively with forwards and midfielders.However, he fell short in finding optimal passing positions as the game progressed.
Lamine Yamal: 7.5
The Ballon d’Or runner-up returned from injury, displaying a commendable performance, although it was evident he wasn’t at full match fitness. He created valuable opportunities from the flank, though some of his crosses lacked precision.
Marcus Rashford: 8
The English forward adapted to a more central role, occasionally stepping back as Balde occupied the wide position. He connected well with teammates but lacked clear goal threats compared to previous matches. He came close to scoring from a free-kick that hit the woodwork and continued to push for a goal after the break.
Fermin Lopez: 7.5
The young midfielder returned from injury and made an immediate impact, injecting urgency into Barcelona’s attack upon his arrival in the second half. His shots on target created solid opportunities, albeit none found the net.
Ronald Araujo: 8
The center-back made a bold move to play as a forward late in the match due to injury concerns, and his gamble paid off as he scored a crucial goal in extra time, securing the three points for his team.