Barcelona 2-2 Girona: LaLiga gameweek 5

Barcelona 2-2 Girona: match report

Barcelona’s 100 percent winning start to the season came to a halt on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 La Liga draw by Girona on Sunday, having been reduced to playing the final 55 minutes with 10 men.

The result meant they lost their two-point advantage over Real Madrid at the top of the table, with both teams on 13 points after five games.

Lionel Messi gave the champions the lead in the 19th minute with a first-time shot after a lay off from Chile international Arturo Vidal and came close to doubling the lead after dancing through a maze of defenders but saw his shot saved.

Barca's strong start was derailed when defender Clement Lenglet was sent off 35 minutes into his first league start for the club after elbowing Pere Pons, and Girona took advantage right before the interval when Cristhian Stuani levelled.

Uruguayan striker Stuani struck again in the 51st to give Girona an unlikely lead, but Gerard Pique climbed above two defenders to level in the 63rd

Barcelona vs Girona live online: latest updates

Barcelona vs Girona live online: match preview

Barcelona welcome Girona to the Camp Nou on Sunday night in an effort to maintain their 100% record in LaLiga on Sunday 23 September at 20:45 CET. Barcelona have been cruising in the league and Champions League but Girona have seven points from a possible twelve and pushed Real Madrid recenty after taking the lead in the first half as a sign of what they're capable of.

Ernesto Valverde named Denis Suarez in his first squad of the season having failed to earn a place in the manager's plans so far. But with two big games coming up on Wednesday and Saturday against Leganes and Athletic Bilbao, he has decided to rotate. Malcom remains injured and Rafinha, Thomas Vermaelen and Carles Aleñá all miss out too and will have to watch on from the stands.

Lionel Messi remains Barca's talisman but Ousmane Dembele has emerged in the absence of Malcom to show off his talent and he has three goals in four games, which is second only to Messi, who has four. "Girona are playing with no fear and they know they have nothing to lose. Eusebio is a coach who always stands tall and it will be an intense match," says Ernesto Valverde about Girona travelling to the Camp Nou.

Eusbio's Girona have been an enjoyable watch this season too with the likes of Portu and Pedro Porro putting pressure on opponents' left wings. Cristhian Stuani started the season slowly but has three goals in his last two games and will be looking to add to his account this season at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Girona, who played their first ever season in LaLiga last year have only played Barcelona twice and lost on both occasions. They weren't particularly happy days at the office either with a 6-1 trouncing at the Camp Nou to go with a 0-3 defeat at Montilivi.

They have a new manager this season, however, and they might approach it differently. Eusebio has played Barcelona seven times with a win and a draw along with five losses in those games. He has a much healthier record against Ernesto Valverde, however, and in six games has won two, drawn one and lost three.