As Barcelona emerge emphatically triumphant against Girona, they put an end to their streak of 2 consecutive losses against the hosts. Hansi Flick has completely transformed this squad into a ruthless and fierce footballing team. Here’s our player ratings for the game.
Ter Stegen: 6.5/10
Despite being minimally tested by the subdued Girona attack, Ter Stegen made a crucial save near the end of the first half where the shot was aimed straight at him. However, the German ruined his clean sheet with a poor demonstration of coming off the line and being left completely beaten by Portu.
Jules Kounde: 8.5/10
Jules Kounde had yet another defensively exceptional performance where the French International completely silenced the offensively adept talents of Arnaut Danjuma. Moreover, he contributed a great deal to Barca’s progressive play with his immense distributive abilities.
In the earlier moments of the second half, it was Kounde’s stunning pass across the pitch off his weaker left foot that found Dani Olmo in a world of space for Barcelona’s third goal of the game.
Inigo Martinez: 7.5/10
In a game where Girona failed to impose themselves, Inigo did not have much work cut out for him but he fared well against Girona’s minimal attacks and cleared the ball on a frequent basis. Moreover, Inigo’s left footed profile was continually used to initialise Barca’s first phase of build up.
Pau Cubarsi: 7/10
Defensively rigid and distributively competent, the 17 year old continues to impress in circumstances where he is amongst the few centre backs at the club who are physically available to play football.
Alejandro Balde: 7.5/10
Despite not providing his usual offensively proficient presence along the left flank, Balde’s performance was more about his ability to completely compress Girona’s possessional play with his pressing abilities.
Winning 9 out of his 12 duels, Balde was fiercely involved in ensuring that the Catalans were able to recover the ball in Girona’s half of play especially in the first half.
Marc Casado: 8/10
Involved in the counter press while retaining possession of the ball, Casado made absolutely no errors for the entirety of the 90 minutes that he played. It was his defense penetrating through ball that found Pedri which led to the Catalan’s 4th and final goal of the game.
Pedri: 8.5/10
Pedri may have not been at his typical creative best but his performance still played a vital role in Barca’s success as his pressing abilities ensured that Girona were never comfortable for any instance within the game. Recovering possession repeatedly, Pedri also made sure not to give the ball away and played the correct pass within that moment of the game.
What can’t be forgotten is Pedri’s well taken goal that mimicked the abilities of some of the best number 9s that the footballing fraternity have seen throughout history. Having the intent to go past the keeper and slot the ball into the open net, it perfectly summarises Pedri’s composure in the most crucial instances of the game.
Dani Olmo: 8.5/10
Dani Olmo continues his dream start at FC Barcelona as he makes it 3 goals in 3 games. This may not have been Olmo’s most aesthetically pleasing performance but his thumping finish to give Barca their third was a moment of stunning brilliance that emerged from out of absolutely nothing, a testament to Olmo’s ability to create danger at a sudden moment within the game.
Raphinha: 8/10
Raphinha may not have contributed to any of Barca’s 4 goals but his 5 key passes show that he had a great deal of creative influence within the game. To add onto that, his efforts in the counter press were most notable as he made many recoveries.
Lamine Yamal: 10/10
A brace in the first division of Spanish Football at the tender age of 17, Lamine Yamal continues on delivering as he has become La Liga 2024/25 season’s top goal contributor with his brace today. Yamal’s first goal summed up the efforts that he was putting in the counter press, as he won an amazing tackle and took the ball into the opposing box and slot it past the Girona keeper with a prolific finish.
Minutes later, an attempted free kick cross rebounded straight into his path and Yamal pounced on the opportunity to slot home a wonderful strike to double the Catalan’s lead. All game long, Yamal was a menace for Girona as he was Barcelona’s best goalscorer, playmaker, and counter presser.
Robert Lewandowski: 7.5/10
Lewandowski may not have found the net this time but he had his opportunities to score but failed to pounce on the chances that were created for him. However, he did add to his assists tally as the ball was rebounded off of him in Yamal’s path for Barca’s second goal of the game.
Substitutes
Eric Garcia: 6/10
Hector Fort: 6.5/10
Pau Victor: 6.5/10
Ferran Torres: 3/10
Gerard Martin: N/A
