The Spanish champions were given a scare in the Nou Camp on Sunday night
Though Barcelona will have been left disappointed with a 2-2 draw at home to Girona, it could very easily have been worse for them.
Having won their opening four games of the new La Liga season, Barca appeared on course to maintain their 100% start when Lionel Messi gave them the lead with just under 20 minutes played.
Eighth goal for Lionel Messi this season – set up by @kingarturo23. @GironaFC's resistance is broken, and they trail 1-0 to @FCBarcelona.#LaLiga #BarcaGirona #PureFootball
Subscribe here – https://t.co/YbI6T6O8MU pic.twitter.com/Z9Suh6vIxx
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) September 23, 2018
This, however, was not the case.
A red card for Clement Lenglet ten minutes from half-time complicated matters for Ernesto Valverde’s side, who conceded an equaliser to Cristhian Stuani just before the break.
OUCH. @clement_lenglet is OFF for this challenge, and it's game on at the Camp Nou.#BarcaGirona #LaLiga #PureFootball
Subscribe here – https://t.co/YbI6T6O8MU pic.twitter.com/aNC12RBji5
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) September 23, 2018
Well well well. @CristhianStuani gets @GironaFC level. Great awareness from the former #Boro man, and it's @FCBarcelona 1 – Girona 1.#LaLiga #BarcaGirona
Subscribe here – https://t.co/YbI6T6O8MU pic.twitter.com/izIr5tHkZD
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) September 23, 2018
Things got worse early in the second half when Stuani, who played for Middlesbrough between 2015 and 2017, added his and Girona’s second of the night.
THE SHOCK IS ON. @FCBarcelona 1 – @GironaFC 2 and it's the former #Boro man again – @CristhianStuani with both goals.#BarcaGirona #LaLiga
Subscribe here – https://t.co/YbI6T6O8MU pic.twitter.com/MLCjuHoUV6
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) September 23, 2018
Gerard Pique was partly to blame for both Girona goals, but was able to get Barca back on level terms with less than half an hour to play.
Is that atonement for @3gerardpique? He's headed his team level.@FCBarcelona 2 – @GironaFC 2.
Still around half an hour left in this one!#BarcaGirona
Subscribe here – https://t.co/YbI6T6O8MU pic.twitter.com/RGM2mlhamP
— ELEVEN Football (@ElevenSportsFB) September 23, 2018
Despite having only ten men, Barcelona finished the game with better possession figures and having created more chances than Girona. They were not, however, able to find a third goal, dropping their first points of the season as a result.
They return to La Liga action in midweek with a trip to Leganes before next Saturday’s game at home to Athletic Bilbao. A trip to Wembley, where they will face Tottenham in the Champions League, follows this.
