Barcelona prolonged its lead on the prime of LaLiga to 13 factors regardless of being held to a goalless draw by mid-table Girona in its Catalan derby on the Camp Nou on Monday.
Barca got here closest to scoring however Ronald Araujo’s shot within the first half didn’t utterly cross the goalline earlier than Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga clawed it clear in what was a largely uninspiring efficiency from the house facet.
It moved as much as 72 factors from 28 video games, 13 forward of second-placed Real Madrid with 10 rounds remaining, whereas Girona is eight factors away from the relegation zone in eleventh place.
Barcelona coach Xavi hoped for a response from his facet following its 4-0 loss to Real Madrid within the Copa del Rey semi-final final week, however they struggled to interrupt down a resolute Girona defence that had solely saved one different LaLiga clear sheet all season.
“It was a very tough game, Girona played really well. We did well in the high press, but again we could not score,” Xavi instructed reporters.
“It is a pity because we wanted to move 15 points clear of Real Madrid, but this is football. I think you have to value a lot the position we are in (at the top of LaLiga).
“The responsibility to score is on all the team. We played a good game, we were just missing the goal. We tried everything but it was not possible today.”
Gazzaniga additionally needed to clear the ball off his goalline after staff mate Santiago Bueno performed a stray again cross that may have nestled within the backside nook, whereas Barca winger Raphinha fired vast when nicely positioned on the again submit.
Home defender Eric Garcia headed over from a free kick when he ought to have scored, however the perfect likelihood of the second half fell to the guests.
Striker Taty Castellanos was performed by means of one-on-one with Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, however curled his shot vast when a easy sq. cross to staff mate Viktor Tsygankov would have resulted in a tap-in for the latter.
“This is a difficult place to come, against a team that finds it easy to score goals,” Girona defender David Lopez mentioned. “We had to play a very complete game not to concede. We resisted and take home a deserved point.
“The only negative is that we could not score. In these types of games you get one chance and if you don’t take it, you will not get another one.”
Barca travels to Getafe in its subsequent fixture on Sunday, whereas Girona hosts Elche on the identical day.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com