<
>
2022-23 LaLiga
  • Pedri (61')

Barcelona extend LaLiga lead to six points with narrow win over Girona

play
'Golden ticket' hunt has Girona fans searching across Catalonia (0:52)

Girona fans follow the club's social media clues to discover hidden tickets for their LaLiga clash with Barcelona. (0:52)

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of LaLiga to six points after they recorded a 1-0 victory away at Girona on Saturday.

Pedri scored the game's only goal on 61 minutes to extend Barca's winning run to eight matches. The victory sent them six points above second-placed rivals Real Madrid, albeit having played an extra game than Carlo Ancelotti's side.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Barca enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half but failed to convert it into clear-cut chances. Ousmane Dembele managed to test Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga on 14 minutes, but he made an important save. Dembele was then forced off the pitch with an injury 11 minutes later.

But the Catalan club converted one of few chances as Pedri opened the scoring on 61 minutes.

Xavi Hernandez' side worked the ball from the right flank to the left before Jordi Alba had a low cross pushed into the path of Pedri, who tapped home from close range.

Three minutes later, Girona's Arnau Martinez thought he had equalised, but his strike was ruled out for offside.

Barca's imperious defence, which has conceded just six goals in LaLiga this season, held firm as neither side truly threatened in the dying stages.

"I believe that in these games you have to win it in any way possible," Barcelona defender Jules Kounde told DAZN.

Moments before full-time, Girona boss Michel was shown a red card for his protests following referee Alejandro Ruiz' decision not to award his side a free-kick for a foul on Martinez.

Spanish LaLiga Standings

POS Team GP GD PTS
1 Barcelona 26 +40 68
2 Real Madrid 26 +30 56
3 Atletico Madrid 26 +23 51
4 Real Sociedad 26 +11 48
5 Real Betis 26 +8 45
6 Villarreal 26 +8 41
7 Athletic Club 26 +8 36
8 Rayo Vallecano 26 +1 36
9 Osasuna 26 -5 34
10 Celta Vigo 26 -3 34
11 Mallorca 26 -5 32
12 Girona 26 -1 31
13 Getafe 26 -7 29
14 Sevilla 26 -13 28
15 Cádiz 26 -17 28
16 Real Valladolid 26 -18 28
17 Espanyol 26 -10 27
18 Valencia 26 -3 26
19 Almería 26 -15 26
20 Elche 26 -32 13