Barcelona's Lamine Yamal Shines as They Crumble Girona in Catalan Derby

La Liga returned after the recent international break with a Catalan derby between two teams who will feature in this season's Champions League - Girona v FC Barcelona. Week five in the league saw the clubs meet at the Estadi Montilivi on Sunday at 4.15pm CEST.

For Barça, the goal was to continue their 100% record in the league so far this season after 4 wins in their first 4 matches. Hansi Flick has selected the following squad: Ter Stegen, Cubarsí, Balde,  I. Martinez,  Ferran, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Iñaki Peña, Pablo Torre, M. Casadó, Pau Víctor, Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Kounde, Eric,  Kochen, H. Fort, Gerard Martín, S. Domínguez and Guillermo.

The players will be travelling to Girona on Saturday ready for the early kick-off, but before that, they had one last workout at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Gavi was once again able to join in with some of the exercises, and they first team were also joined by Guillermo, Oduro and Aziz of the Barça Atlètic, with the former getting called up for the game.

Key Moments

Barcelona began their Catalan derby clash with Girona in fine style, taking the lead in the 20th minute through Lamine Yamal. The young forward collected the ball on the edge of the box and curled a left-footed shot past the outstretched arms of Paulo Gazzaniga, giving the visitors a deserved advantage.

The young star was not done there, as he doubled Barcelona's lead just before the half-hour mark. This time, he received a perfectly weighted pass from Dani Olmo, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful shot that found the back of the net, leaving Gazzaniga with no chance.

Girona struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half, and they found themselves further behind just after the break. Dani Olmo, who was enjoying a fantastic game, added a third goal for Barcelona with a brilliant volley from the edge of the box.

It was clear that Barcelona were on another level, and it was only a matter of time before they added to their lead. This happened in the 70th minute when a long pass from Marc Casadó found Pedri in the box. Pedri, with a cool finish, slotted the ball past Gazzaniga to make it 4-0.

Player Performances

Lamine Yamal was the star of the show for Barcelona, demonstrating his immense talent with his two goals and a dominant performance. The 17-year-old has been turning heads with his incredible talent, and his performance against Girona further cemented his status as a future superstar.

Dani Olmo was also impressive in the Barcelona attack, providing an assist and scoring a beautiful goal himself. The Spanish forward is enjoying an excellent start to life at Barcelona and is clearly a key player for Hansi Flick.

Girona, on the other hand, was disappointing. They struggled to get into the game and never looked like they could get back into the match. Arnaut Danjuma, who joined the club in the summer, failed to make an impact on the game, and the hosts were ultimately outplayed by Barcelona.

A Dominant Display

Barcelona's victory over Girona was a comprehensive one. They controlled the game from start to finish and were worthy winners. The Catalan derby is always a fiery encounter, but this time, it was Barcelona who were too strong for their rivals. Their dominance was evident from the first whistle, and the result was never in doubt.

This win will give Barcelona further confidence as they head into their Champions League campaign. They look to be in great form, and with a squad full of talent and experience, they will be among the favourites to win the competition.

What's Next?

Barcelona will now turn their attention to their Champions League opener against Monaco on September 19. They will be looking to start their European campaign with a win, and they will be hoping to continue their impressive form from the La Liga season.

Girona will need to bounce back from this defeat. They will be hoping to get back to winning ways in their next match, but they will need to improve significantly if they want to challenge for a place in the top four this season.