Lionel Messi scores again as Barcelona beat Girona
Reduced to 10 men for most of the second half, Girona forgot the golden rule of trying to compete with Barcelona never leave Lionel Messi alone.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring Barcelona’s second goal during the La Liga match between Girona and FC Barcelona at the Montilivi stadium in Girona, Spain. (Source: AP)
Lionel Messi sealed Barcelona’s 2-0 win on Sunday to restore the defending champions’ five-point lead in the Spanish league over second-placed Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine’s goal came with Girona still threatening to equalize despite losing defender Bernardo Espinosa to a second yellow card shortly after halftime.
But a gaping hole appeared at the back when Luis Suarez played Jordi Alba clear. The left back quickly spied Messi arriving at the top of the box unmarked, and Messi did the rest by floating his shot over Yassine Bounou to crush the hosts’ comeback hopes in the 69th.