Fansided

Barcelona host Girona as they look to extend 100 percent record

By Matt Addison

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 02: Lionel Andres Messi of FC Barcelona in action during the La Liga 2018-19 match between FC Barcelona and SD Huesca at Camp Nou on 02 September 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 02: Lionel Andres Messi of FC Barcelona in action during the La Liga 2018-19 match between FC Barcelona and SD Huesca at Camp Nou on 02 September 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Girona are likely to face an uphill task in the Catalan derby against Barcelona.

Lionel Messi et al will be hoping to maintain their winning start to the Liga season against Girona on Saturday.

Thus far, Barca have beaten Alaves, Real Valladolid, Huesca and Real Sociedad in the league, as well as PSV in the Champions League.

Girona, meanwhile, also a team from the Catalonia region, have won twice, drawn once in their second season since being promoted to the top flight.

Part of the City Football Group associated with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, Girona are not expected to gain any points from their trip to the Camp Nou, and are undeniable underdogs.

Key battles

Keeping Messi, Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho quiet is no easy task, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou anticipating a busy evening’s work.

Girona often deploy a back three of Bernardo, Pedro Alcala and Juanpe, although Marc Muniesa can come in and make it a back four, as he did in the 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid.

In midfield, Douglas Soares and Alex Granell will have to face Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic, while Girona’s wing-backs, Pedro Porro and Aday, will try to keep the marauding Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto pegged back as much as they can.

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Previous meetings

Only promoted to La Liga prior to last season, Girona are undoubted minnows.

Last September, Barcelona won 3-0 at Girona, with two own goals and a third from Luis Suarez sealing the three points on a comfortable Saturday evening in front of just 13,000 supporters.

At the Camp Nou, it was even more one-sided, with Barcelona winning 6-1. Suarez scored a hat-trick, Messi got two and Coutinho scored his first league goal after signing from Liverpool the previous month.

Cristian Portu had given the away side the lead after three minutes, but just two minutes later, the scores were level, and from there Barcelona simply pulled away.

Barcelona won 2-1 in a friendly in 2011, but other than that there are no other recent matchups due to Girona tending to reside in the lower leagues.

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