There will be three minutes of added time. Girona's late attempts to get back into this one are falling flat. They're 2-0 down.
89'
C. Stuani gets yellow.
YELLOW: Stuani is the latest home player into the book, carded for dissent.
Douglas Luiz has the opportunity to deliver a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Pique is up highest to clear. Arthur commits another foul, with a second set-piece from Douglas Luiz also easily dealt with.
87'
There's mild applause as a speculative effort drifts wide for Girona. Ter Stegen has enjoyed a relatively quiet final half an hour.
86'
Paik Seung-Ho enters the game and replaces Álex Granell.
SUB: Paik is introduced in the final change of the match. Girona captain Granell makes way.
84'
The Girona supporters were making a great deal of noise earlier on; now only the Barca fans can be heard, cheering and jeering as the visitors play out the contest with ease.
82'
Sergi Roberto enters the game and replaces Sergio Busquets.
SUB: Busquets did not feature in midweek and he takes his leave early in this one, being replaced by Roberto.
80'
A. Lozano enters the game and replaces Portu.
SUB: Lozano is on now for Girona, replacing Portu, who has worked hard without reward.
79'
Barca thrashed Girona 6-1 last season. It's unlikely they will record a similar scoreline here, but this may again be a case of how many for the champions. They are dominant, having been worked hard earlier on.
78'
A more comfortable stop for Bounou this time as Rakitic shoots from distance, but he is still required to turn the ball away.
Minute
Description
77'
T. Vermaelen enters the game and replaces C. Lenglet.
SUB: With Barca comfortable here, Vermaelen is on for Lenglet in defence.
74'
Suarez miscontrols when he would otherwise be through on goal, timing his run well again to catch out a now very ropey Girona back-line.
72'
Girona are quickly pushing forward again, but their final ball lets them down when well placed to cross. Ter Stegen has been brilliant in the Barca goal but Girona have been wasteful too.
70'
Douglas Luiz enters the game and replaces Aleix García.
SUB: Douglas Luiz is on for Girona, replacing Aleix Garcia. The hosts had been preparing that change before Messi scored.
69'
Juanpe gets yellow.
YELLOW: To add to Girona's woes, Juanpe goes into the book for a foul in the build-up to the goal.
68'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Jordi Alba.
Alba gets the assist, having timed his run to perfection. A quick VAR review confirms that he is onside as he darts clear and squares to Messi.
GOAL!! Messi makes it 2-0! He stays onside and is all alone as he controls in front of goal before lifting a delicate finish over Bounou and into the net. Barca should be home and dry now.
66'
Granell takes a direct route to Stuani but overhits the cross. That allows Barca the opportunity to build from the back again and they are soon on the attack once more.
64'
Girona have broken Barca's dominance and are enjoying a spell of possession, yet the hosts are still penned back within their own half. Stuani, who has been busy throughout, is a little isolated now.
61'
Suarez has the opportunity to present Messi with an open goal if only he can direct a volley back across the goalkeeper... He cannot. A deep Alba cross drifts just beyond the forward.
60'
Barca are probing now. Messi twice tries to tee up Alba in the area but cannot. Then the Barca captain sees a low shot blocked. Girona, having pushed hard for an equaliser, are having to dig in a little. It's still 1-0 to the visitors.
59'
Arthur is immediately involved and looks to settle Barca again. It was becoming a little hectic in the centre of the pitch.
58'
Arthur enters the game and replaces A. Vidal.
SUB: The first change sees Barca swap Vidal for Arthur in the centre of midfield.
57'
Again Girona want a penalty... Stuani flings himself at a cross and Alba eases the ball behind for a goal-kick. The referee is still not budging.
55'
SAVE! It's easy for Ter Stegen but Stuani should score! Girona continue to hare after the ball and win it high up the pitch, allowing Stuani to advance into the area and shoot. A tame curler is straight at Ter Stegen.
52'
Y. Bounou gets yellow.
YELLOW: Goalkeeper Bounou leads the Girona protests and he goes into the book. The noise from the crowd has just turned up another notch.
51'
B. Espinosa gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED!! Espinosa is off for a second yellow! Having been initially carded harshly for a clash with Messi, the defender clips Suarez's heels and is dismissed to the disbelief of the home side.
48'
Having been pegged back for much of the first half - despite leading - Barca appear keen to kick on and secure their result early in the second period. Girona are again pressing high, though.
47'
Barca win a free-kick within seconds of the restart, but Messi is wasteful, curling a long way over the top from 25 yards.
46'
KICK-OFF: Barcelona get the second half under way.
45' +2
HALF-TIME: Girona 0 Barcelona 1
45' +1
There will be a minimum of one minute added time as Girona keep pushing.
45'
High and wide from Granell, shooting from 30 yards. Girona have held their own in this first half but it looks as though they will trail at the break.
43'
Sergio Busquets gets yellow.
YELLOW: Busquets goes into the book for yet another challenge on halfway. He is then perhaps fortunate to avoid censure as he clatters Alcala following the free-kick.
42'
CHANCE! Confusion reigns! Stuani is sent clear and shoots at Ter Stegen, before Pons beats the goalkeeper on the rebound. Pique is on hand to clear, however. Girona claim the ball crossed the line but, in truth, Pique cleared with room to spare. The referee is hounded by players of both teams as play continues. Barca still lead 1-0.
40'
Huge jeers from the home supporters as Suarez goes down just inside the area, with the locals apparently claiming the forward dived. He takes his time to get back to his feet, although his fall was similarly stunted.
39'
This has been a bruising first half and the challenges continue to fly in. Barca have opportunities to counter, but they have been surprisingly wasteful.
37'
A. Vidal gets yellow.
YELLOW: After a quiet spell, Girona keep the pressure on. Vidal is cautioned for a foul in the centre circle.
34'
Valery has repeatedly looked to pick out Stuani with crosses from the left, but the Girona forward has been marshalled well so far. The latest such attempt clears the area and lets Barca off the hook.
33'
Another offside flag slows a Barca attack! It's an incorrect call, too. Messi feeds a pass through to Rakitic, who is clearly onside as he sees a square pass cut out in front of goal. Girona were in trouble.
32'
Portu really should do better. A cross comes in from the right and the forward is unmarked on the penalty spot but does not make a clean contact with a header. The ball drifts wide.
31'
C. Lenglet gets yellow.
YELLOW: Girona look to break at speed until Lenglet comes across to slow the attack, committing a foul and going into the book.
30'
Messi takes a free-kick 20 yards from goal and a tame effort bounces away off the wall. Barca believe the ball struck an arm. There's no interest from the officials.
29'
B. Espinosa gets yellow.
YELLOW: This looks very soft. Messi moves the ball on and then appears to run into Espinosa, who is booked and concedes a foul on the edge of the Girona area.
28'
Girona's threat has waned as this first half has gone on. Barca are well on top, with Messi increasingly influential.
27'
Alba is on the move again and it's a majestic Messi pass! The forward splits the defence and finds Alba, but his cross is deflected behind. Barca go short with the consequent corner and wastefully overhit a subsequent cross.
25'
A contentious decision goes against Barca this time. Alba is adjudged to be offside when he looks to be in line with the last defender. Coutinho had prompted the move with a superb pass to Rakitic on the left.
23'
Not far away from Messi... Suarez leads an attack but is forced wide, before he switches the play back to the edge of the area with Messi. A surprisingly poor touch gives the Barca captain plenty to do and a curling 25-yard effort drops just wide.
22'
Messi has been fairly quiet so far but almost tears a hole in the Girona defence. He is crowded out just inside the area. Both sides are looking to attack at pace, keeping the ball on the ground in what has been a very entertaining contest thus far.
20'
More outrage from the home support as a decision goes against Girona, the hosts believing they should have been awarded a corner. The referee might well wish this game had been played in Miami...
18'
Girona follow Barca's example and take a few risks as they pass the ball around the edge of their own area. It pays off initially as the hosts transition to attack at some speed, but the move comes to a halt as Pique pinches the ball from Portu inside the box.
15'
This has been a very impressive response from Girona. They win the ball back in midfield again and once more appeal for a foul just outside the area, but the referee is not interested. Good challenge from Lenglet.
12'
Girona do not look to be altering their tactics, moving the ball around with confidence in the Barca half, perhaps keen to keep the ball away from their own goal where they looked so vulnerable as Semedo struck.
10'
A brief delay follows as the officials ensure there was no foul in a rather convoluted passage of play in the build-up. The goal stands.
9'
Nélson Semedo has scored a goal for Barcelona!
GOAL!! Semedo punishes some shoddy defending! It's 1-0 to Barca! Messi teases a pass through for Alba to cross from the left. His centre evades the waiting Barcelona players but prompts a scramble, finally ricocheting to the feet of Semedo. The full-back slams into the bottom corner.
8'
Almost a nervy moment for the hosts! Suarez chases after a seemingly lose cause inside the Girona area and gets there before the ball runs behind for a goal-kick. He's unable to control, though.
7'
Girona are pressing high, particularly when Ter Stefen has the ball. Barca have been able to play their way out so far.
5'
Alba wins a free-kick on the left and the delivery briefly causes issues for the Girona defence, but Bounou pounces on the loose ball.
3'
A lucky bounce allows Suarez to break forward on the Barca left, but Girona clear the cross and then counter. Stuani is left isolated, though, and his team-mates cannot get the ball up to the front man.
2'
It's a packed house at Municipal de Montilivi, with this match played at Girona rather than in Miami as originally planned. The hosts are going on the offensive from the off.
1'
KICK-OFF: Girona get us up and running!
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of today's LaLiga clash between Girona and Barcelona!
A weakened Barca side suffered a 2-0 Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg defeat at Sevilla in midweek and Ernesto Valverde's men will be keen to bounce back here.
Lionel Messi is back in the mix for Barca after sitting out in Seville. Let's get the team news in full...
Girona (3-4-3): Yassine Bounou; Pedro Alcala, Bernardo Espinosa, Juanpe; Pedro Porro, Pere Pons, Alex Granell, Valery Fernandez; Portu, Cristhian Stuani, Aleix Garcia.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Arturo Vidal; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho.
With Atletico Madrid winning yesterday, the Blaugrana's lead at the summit was cut to two points. They face Girona, who are 13th and winless in all competitions since December 5.
Subs: Gorka Iraizoz, Jonas Ramalho, Douglas Luiz, Anthony Lozano, Marc Muniesa, Paik Seung-ho, Alex Pachon.
Barca lead despite a very even opening 45 minutes. Semedo was clinical when the ball broke his way in the penalty area early on, Girona having failed to deal with a left-wing cross. Subsequent chances have come and gone for the hosts.
So Barcelona move five points clear at the top of LaLiga. Thanks for joining us and, until next time, goodbye!
Valverde's men will continue their cup tie with Sevilla in midweek, before returning to LaLiga action at home to Valencia. Girona play Real Madrid in the cup and then Eibar.
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