Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal delivered a masterclass, scoring twice in the first half as the Catalan giants cruised to a 4-1 win over Girona on Sunday, keeping their perfect La Liga record intact with five consecutive victories.
Yamal opened the scoring with two quick strikes in the 30th and 37th minutes, showcasing his growing prowess as a future star for the Blaugrana. Dani Olmo added to Girona’s misery with a powerful finish right after halftime, and Pedri capped off the dominant display with a fourth goal in the 64th minute. Girona managed a consolation goal through Cristhian Stuani in the 80th minute, but it wasn’t enough to stem the Barca onslaught.
Despite a late red card for Ferran Torres following a reckless studs-up challenge on Yaser Asprilla, Barcelona remained in control throughout the match. Hansi Flick’s squad now sits comfortably atop the La Liga standings with 15 points, four ahead of Real Madrid and Villarreal, while Girona languishes in seventh place with seven points.
The 16-year-old phenom stole the show, continuing his meteoric rise with a dazzling performance. His first goal came after a mistake by Girona’s David Lopez, as Yamal pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box and rifled an unstoppable shot into the net. Just seven minutes later, Yamal doubled the lead by slotting home a rebound from a free kick, solidifying his status as a rising star in European football.
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Barcelona’s relentless high press suffocated Girona’s defense, forcing errors and creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities. The third goal came just a minute after halftime when Jules Kounde sent a pinpoint long ball to Dani Olmo, who burst into the box and fired past the goalkeeper.
Girona’s Paulo Gazzaniga pulled off several saves to deny Robert Lewandowski and Yamal, but Barca’s attacking fluidity was too much for the hosts. Pedri’s goal in the 64th minute, set up by a brilliant pass from substitute Marc Casado, was the nail in the coffin, as the midfielder ghosted behind the Girona defense to tap into an empty net.
Girona struggled to cope with Barcelona’s intensity and were fortunate to avoid an even bigger defeat. Cristhian Stuani’s 80th-minute goal was a brief moment of respite for the home side, but Ferran Torres’ red card for a dangerous challenge added a sour note to an otherwise flawless performance from the reigning La Liga champions.
Barcelona will now turn their attention to the Champions League, as they prepare to face Monaco on Thursday.
