Girona vs Barcelona. Spanish La Liga.
Municipal de MontiliviAttendance13,649.
Girona 0-2 Barcelona: Lionel Messi and Nelson Semedo on target in routine win
Sunday 27 January 2019 18:06, UK
Lionel Messi scored for a sixth consecutive La Liga game as champions Barcelona saw off a gutsy Girona side 2-0 in a Catalan derby to go five points clear at the top of the table.
Portuguese full-back Nelson Semedo struck with his weaker left foot to send Barca into the lead in the ninth minute at a rain-swept Montilivi Stadium, after La Liga's ambitious plan to stage the game in Miami fell through.
Girona missed a double chance to equalise shortly before the break, with defender Gerard Pique clearing a shot off the line, and the home side's striker Cristhian Stuani was thwarted by the feet of Marc-Andre ter Stegen early in the second period.
Bernardo Espinosa was sent off in the 51st minute for a second booking and the hosts' hopes of getting back in the game were dealt a fatal blow by Messi, who lofted the ball over 'keeper Bono in the 68th minute for his 18th league goal of the season.
The strike means Messi has now scored at every La Liga ground he has played at, with the Argentine still to visit Huesca later in the campaign.
Barca top the table on 49 points after 21 games, holding a five-point lead over Atletico Madrid, who beat Getafe 2-0 on Saturday.
