Barcelona down Girona to continue winning start to season

Posted Sunday, September 24, 2017 by PA

Barcelona swept past Catalan neighbours Girona 3-0 for their sixth straight win of the new La Liga campaign, thanks largely to two own goals.

The league leaders forced both Francisco Aday and Gorka Iraizoz to put through their own net, in a competent victory that cemented their four-point advantage at the top of the table.

Luis Suarez also notched in the second half when he powered home his 87th Barcelona goal on his 100th club appearance, and even forced Iraizoz's own goal with a cute step over.

But Lionel Messi drew a rare blank, leaving own goals accounting for Barcelona's second-highest goals haul this season behind their free-scoring Argentina talisman.

Messi already boasts nine league strikes this term, but now Barcelona have benefited from three own goals in the new campaign.

Barcelona's victory restored a four-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid, with defending champions Real Madrid trailing by seven.

The free-scoring Messi was for once unable to cut loose in a curious first half where Barcelona never turned their dominance into goals.

The visitors took the lead when Aday deflected Jordi Alba's volley straight into his own net.

The wicked deflection left keeper Iraizoz completely stranded, and Barcelona in charge without hitting anything anywhere near top gear.

In a half of precious few clear-cut chances Iraizoz batted away a whipped Messi free-kick, but the home goalkeeper could do nothing to avoid registering an own goal to his name.

Aleix Vidal's smart backheel found Suarez, whose stepover bamboozled Iraizoz, with the hapless home keeper putting through his own net.

Barca continued to probe and push after the break, and that persistence paid off when Suarez swept home his side's third.

Sergi Roberto's fine through-ball left Suarez one-on-one with Iraizoz, and the Uruguay hitman made no mistake, side-footing home with power and panache.

Suarez in the process lodged himself second on Barcelona's all-time list of goals scored in his first 100 club appearances.