Title-chasing Barcelona had been held to a 0-0 draw by Girona at Camp Nou on Monday, extending their lead on Real Madrid on the prime of La Liga by one level, now sitting 13 clear with 10 video games remaining.
Still smarting from their Clasico humiliation by Madrid final week within the Copa del Rey, Barcelona had been removed from their finest in a Catalan derby conflict, regardless of the motivation of seeing the champions lose on Saturday towards Villarreal.
Girona, mid-table, had been stable and compelled Xavi Hernandez’s facet to drop factors at house in La Liga for under the third time this season.
Barcelona secured their twenty first clear sheet within the prime flight however weren’t ready to absolutely capitalise on Real Madrid’s stumble, as they bid to win La Liga for the primary time since 2019.
“As the minutes handed, they began to achieve confidence in defence, and we had been struggling to make the ultimate go or take our possibilities,” Barca captain Sergio Busquets informed DAZN.
“Our objective remains the same, to win La Liga, and to try to win it as soon as possible. We’re 13 points clear, but our objective remains the same.”
Xavi, nonetheless with out a number of key gamers together with Pedri and Ousmane Dembele, lined up with Ansu Fati and Raphinha alongside La Liga’s prime scorer Robert Lewandowski up entrance.
The Polish ahead got here shut to opening the scoring on 4 minutes after being teed up by Fati, whipping an effort onto the roof of the web.
Barcelona supporters chanted Lionel Messi’s title once more after 10 minutes, representing the World Cup winner’s former Barca shirt quantity, amid hopes he might return to his former membership after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires.
“Leo generates pleasure, they’ve chanted his title in two video games now, we’ll see what occurs,” Xavi told reporters.
“We are focused on this, we have to win La Liga.”
Barcelona got here shut once more when Girona defender Santi Bueno nearly put via his personal internet however goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga reacted nicely to slide in and divert the ball to security.
The former Tottenham goalkeeper saved nicely from Raphinha at his close to submit after which clawed away a Ronald Araujo effort from the ensuing nook.
Barcelona appealed that the ball had gone in however with the assistance of VAR — La Liga doesn’t use goal-line know-how — officers determined the ball didn’t cross the road.
– Girona blow probability –
Eric Garcia headed over from a nook early within the second half as Barcelona stored on the lookout for the opener.
However the very best probability of the sport fell to the guests, with Taty Castellanos spurning the chance by firing broad when via on objective, with Ivan Martin alongside in assist, prepared for a tap-in.
Xavi threw on defender Jordi Alba as a left winger as he seemed for higher supply within the ultimate third, and he made an immediate influence with a harmful cross and a few neat interaction with Lewandowski.
Gazzaniga made one other high quality save to tip over Gavi’s header from a nook in stoppage time as Barcelona lastly confirmed some urgency, however it was too late.
Lewandowski had a late backheel deflected broad as Girona clung on for the draw.
The Catalans took a meek step in the direction of their title dream, extending their lead on Madrid by a degree.
“If we win it, we now have to rejoice it large time, inside (the membership) we worth it quite a bit,” added Xavi, who had complained at the weekend that some critics were trying to play down Barcelona’s season.
“We would absolutely have taken being 13 points clear, at the start of the season.”
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