GIRONA — Pedri‘s third goal in his past four games earned Barcelona a crucial 1-0 win away at Girona on Saturday as Xavi Hernandez’s side strengthened their grip on top spot in LaLiga.
The midfielder struck on the hour mark, turning home his sixth goal of the season from close range after Paulo Gazzaniga had sent Jordi Alba‘s cross into his path.
Barca, who held off a late Girona onslaught, temporarily move six points clear of Real Madrid, who host third-placed Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
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Rapid reaction
1. Barca survive attacking absences to claim points
A trip to a cold and windy Estadi Montilivi was never going to be easy for Barca, but their task was further complicated by the absence of 22-goal top scorer Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres through suspension. They then lost Ousmane Dembele, who has been in great form, to injury in the first half to leave them lacking a goal threat against a Girona side happy to sit back and play on the counter-attack.
A stalemate looked possible in the first half with neither side really coming close. Yan Couto wasted the home side’s best chance early on and Ansu Fati fired over the bar for Barca after a defensive error.
