Barcelona 0-0 Girona, summary, score, highlights, LaLiga 2022/23

FT at Camp Nou

FC Barcelona 0-0 Girona

A decent first half with less incident in the second and a result that neither side can complain about.

A point edges Xavi's men closer to the LaLiga title and the draw is a morale booster for Michel's well drilled Girona side.

Gavi and Lewandowski almost clinched the win for Barcelona in added time but a goal would have been cruel on Girona who will rue the wasted Castellanos chance midway through the second half.

The whistle sounds and it ends with no goals at Camp Nou.

Lewandowski with an audacious back heel almost clinches it as we head to minute 98.

Another corner for the home side. 

Corner for FCB... last throw of the dice as Gavi heads goal bound and Gazzniga saves well. Great chance for the home side to snatch it at the death.

Free for Girona as Aleix Garcia swings the ball over but Riqueleme is called offside.

Five minutes of time to be added.

Into the final minute of the contest and it looks like we're heading for a 0-0 draw.

The result would see FCB move 13 points clear at the top of LaLiga.

'Força Gir-ona' is the audible chant from the 1,000 or so travelling fans at Camp Nou tonight.

What a result this would be for the Montilivi side and the point would as good as cement their position in LaLiga and banish any fear of the drop zone.

Girona switch as Martin makes way for Fernandez.

Girona have been so impressive in the calm way they move the ball out from the back. Michel's men always opt to pass their way out of danger when so many other sides at Camp Nou would opt to just whack the ball clear.

Final ten minutes at Camp Nou.

Still no breakthrough as the clock ticks down.

Lewandowski almost weaves into the box and just hesitates and Girona manage to clear the danger.

Stuan carded as he collides with an opponent. 

Jordi Alba on for Raphinha 

Riquelme almost finds the net as his cross hits Araujo and goes inches wide.

Corner for Girona but Stuani unable to latch onto the ball.

Play momentarily held up as the Girona man is attended to.

Arnau gets an elbow from Ferran Torres and needs medical attention.

Riquelme on for Tsygankov (Girona)

Still no breakthrough at the Camp Nou Spotify as we enter the final 20 minutes of the contest.

Ferran Torres comes on for FCB with Ansu Fati making way

Barça have only failed to not score once at home in LaLiga this season and that was in the opening fixture of the campaign as they were held 0-0 by Rayo Vallecano.

Torres and Alba still warming up as we approach the 65th minute.

We're past the hour mark at Camp Nou and still no goals with chances being created at either end.

Stuani and Couto on for Girona with Castellanos and Villa making way.

78,425 fans in attandence tonight at Camp Nou for this Cataln derby.

Gavi works himself into a fine position but fails to secure the required accuracy and his strike is deflected wide.

Stuani poised to make an entrance for Girona.

Castellanos is through on goal and instead of sliding the ball through to the unmarked Tsyhankov, the Argentine goes for glory and blazes wide. 

The best chance of the night for the visitors.

Girona still applying plenty of pressure in harrying Barcelona when the home side are on the ball.

The ball falls to Kounde but the former Sevilla man blazes over.

The second half beginning as the first ended with Barcelona on the ball and Girona defending.

Jordi Alba and Ferran Torres warming up for Xavi's side.

Garcia goes close but fails to keep the ball down and heads over.

Girona start the second half.

Barcelona set to make a switch as Kessie comes on for the Catalan side, Sergi Roberto makes way.

Aleix Garcia on for Borja Garcia for Girona

A closely disputed battle at Camp Nou but there is a sense that Barcelona upped into a higher gear towards the end of the half and may have too much for a valiant Girona side.

FCB 0-0 Girona (HT)

The whistle sounds at Camp Nou and the sides head to the dressing room with no goals.

A bright game with both teams offering plenty in attack with Raphinha going close for the home side and Castellanos almost finding the target for Girona.

We'll have an additional one minute of added time.

We've seen little of Lewandowski in the first half of the contest.

As things stand, Barcelona hold a 13 point over Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Barcelona upping the tempo now and it certainly feels that the home side have upped a gear with Raphina now more involved in the action.

Raphinha almost finds the net as the Brazilian steals in at the back post and Gazzaniga is on hand to save.

From the corner the ball looks that it may have crossed the line with a Girona man almost steering into his own net.

Hawk eye will be called upon and as things stand 'no goal' as the entire ball didn't cross the line. A major let-off for the visitors.

Sergi Roberto volleys over as Girona are loose in getting the ball out from the back.

What a ball from Hernandez as he finds Castellanos with a sublime ball... the flag goes up as the Argentine strikes was inches offside.

Castellanos is given the first card of the night as he clips Araujo.

Past the half hour mark and it remains goalless at Camp Nou Spotify.

The bulk of the play is now being concentrated in the centre of the park.

Barcelona ahead in terms of possession

Girona are looking very good and at times, one could think that they could be a Barcelona side wearing their red and yellow striped shirt as such is the composure that they move the ball around.

Martin breaks for Girona and has time to unleash a shot but the effort fails to trouble Ter Stegen.

This really end to end stuff and a joy to watch two teams who have such a focus on attack.

Barcelona win their fourth corner of the night.

Girona holding firm in defence despite being outplayed now.

Barcelona win another corner as Girona have to dig deep defensively as the home side probe looking for the opener.

A really bright start to the game with both sides offering plenty going forward.

Great strike from Castellanos as the loan player from NYCFC steers the ball into the side netting.

The 10th minute Messi, Messi chant rings out at Camp Nou.

Bueno almost steers the ball into his own net but quick thinking from Gazzaniga as the Argentine keeper slides the ball past his own post.

More pressure from the home side as Jules Kounde clips the ball in with a deft flick and Lewandowski heads over.

Sloppy from Girona as the ball is gifted to Fati who finds Lewandowski who drives the ball inches over the bar.

Now Barcelona go close as Gavi drives a dangerous ball across the face of the Girona goal and Bueno does well to steer the ball away from the danger zone.

Girona almost carve out an opening in the first minute as Castellanos almost latches onto a fine through ball.

Michel's team likes to play a brand of quick and attacking football as Tsygankov volleys into the side netting.

Barcelona start the action

All set at Camp Nou....

Mateu Lahoz doing the pre-game protocol honours as kick-off looms.

Girona tonight wearing their change kit of yellow and red stripes (the Catalan Senyera flag) with the home side in their classic navy and dark red stripes, navy shorts and socks.
 

Just a handful of games remaining at the current version of Camp Nou with Barcelona set to play at Montjuic next season as the Catalan giants begin (badly needed) renovation work on the iconic stadium.

Lewandowski looking to add to tally

Currently LaLiga top scorer, Robert Lewandowski will be looking to add to his 17 goals for the season so far. The Polish striker leads Karim Benzema who is on 14 strikes with Getafe's Enes Unal on 13 goals for the 22-23 season.

Rayo Vallecano legend Michel has done a solid job as Girona manager after taking over last July. With one of the smaller budgets in LaLiga he has taken the Catalan side to mid table respectability and with 11 games remaining for the Blanquivermells, barring a major, major disaster, Montilivi will witness top flight football for the 2023-24 season.

Taty Castellanos (on loan from NYCFC) the lone Girona striker as Michel employs a 4-1-4-1 formation.

A reminder of the team news as kick-off looms. Barcelona set to employ a 4-3-3 with Ansu Fati, Lewandowski and Raphinha leading the attack for Xavi's side.

Tonight offers FC Barcelona the chance for some redemption to the club's supporters after their 0-4 Copa del Rey humbling last week to Real Madrid.

A two trophy haul for Xavi in his first full season in charge as head coach (Spanish Super Cup and (inevitable) LaLiga title) with the coach from Terrassa anxious to deliver a better performance in Europe next season.

This is only Girona's third spell in the top flight with the red and white striped side never beating FC Barcelona in their top flight meetings.

Ter Stegen begins warm up

Fans slowly start to pack into Camp Nou with a decent attendance expected given that today is a holiday in Catalunya.

Girona fans expected in numbers too with the journey between both cities just over an hour.

FCB-Girona: match official

Tonight's referee for the LaLiga clash at Camp Nou is the flamboyant Antonio Mateu Lahoz with the match official needing little introduction.

The 46-year-old has been on FIFA's books since 2011 and oversaw games at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and was in charge of a series of games at the recent 2022 Qatar World Cup and gained international notoriety when he brandished a record 18 yellow cards in the quarter final contest between Argentina and the Netherlands at the Lusail Stadium. 

Barcelona still without the injured Pedri, Dembélé, De Jong and Christensen with all four players expected to reappear at some point later this month.

Girona XI confirmed

Michel has also named his side that will face Barcelona with just one win for the side from the Alta Empordá at Camp Nou in their past ten meetings and that came in the Catalan Super Cup back in March of 2019.

FCB XI confirmed

Xavi has named the side that will face Girona tonight with Ansu Fati selected to play alongside Robert Lewandowski in attack for the league leaders.

With just two defeats and two draws all season, Xavi's side have been relentless on their journey through the campaign with the Catalan giants just shipping 9 goals in 27 games.

A win for Xavi's side could see FC Barcelona open a 15 point gap at the top of the table and surely just a question of time when the Catalan giants can mathematically be crowned champions with 10 games remaining after tonight's contest against Girona.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Camp Nou as FC Barcelona face Girona.

Kick off in the Catalan capital is at 3pm (ET) / 12pm (PT)