BARCELONA, Spain — Pedri marked his 100th Barcelona appearance by scoring to squeeze previous Girona 1- and raise their lead of the Spanish league on Saturday.
The 20-calendar year-old Pedri started off on the bench as Xavi rotated his lineup in advance of a active 7 days, but the playmaker changed the wounded Ousmane Dembélé in the 25th moment.
Girona stymied the league front-runner right until Pedri’s fellow substitute, Jordi Alba, identified him with a lower cross at near assortment in the 61st. Pedri, who won the 2021 Golden Boy for the continent’s most promising less than-21 player, is regarded 1 of the pillars of Barcelona’s article-Messi rebuild. The Spain midfielder has scored 6 times this period.
Xavi’s team moved 6 details clear of Actual Madrid right before the titleholder hosts 3rd-put Genuine Sociedad on Sunday at the Liga’s midway issue.
Dembélé asked to be substituted just after he was seemingly bothered by his left thigh subsequent a dash. Barcelona has nevertheless to give any data on his position. He walked off the discipline and viewed the relaxation of the match from the dugout.
The France forward, who suffered a sequence of accidents in his to start with seasons with Barcelona, has averted really serious injuries considering the fact that returning from a knee problem in November 2021.
Photos: Pedri sales opportunities gain at Girona in 100th game for Barcelona
Xavi mentioned was Dembélé hurt but the nature of it won’t be known until an exam on Sunday.
“It is also negative because he is 1 of our most decisive gamers,” Xavi said about his fast winger. Dembélé has eight plans in this marketing campaign and is Barcelona‘s finest one particular-on-one particular attacker in open up room.
That still left Barcelona with out its prime two scorers. Robert Lewandowski, who potential customers the league with 13 goals, finished a 3-video game league suspension. Forward Ferran Torres was also suspended.
With Ansu Fati and Raphinha unable to crank out significantly in assault, Xavi despatched on Jordi Alba at halftime at still left back for Marcos Alonso to aid obtain a breakthrough.
A series of 1-touch passes freed Alba down the left flank to square the ball across the goalmouth, in which goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga allow it slip through his fingers and Pedri ensured Barcelona prolonged its winning streak to eight online games across all competitions.
Girona, in 12th place, did absolutely nothing in assault until finally a late push. Ivan Martín was still left huge open up in front of the purpose in the 86th, only to volley a cross large and huge.
Girona mentor Michel was despatched off in stoppage time with a direct purple card for vehemently protesting what he believed was a foul on a single of his players.
“We produced a huge effort and played a good sport,” Michel said. “We only threatened them two or 3 periods, but they only experienced that one particular chance that they converted. With what we noticed on the subject the defeat is not truthful.”