Staff Reporter.
Girona Spain — Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal struck twice in the first half to help deliver a commanding 4-1 win at Girona on Sunday that extended their perfect start to the season with a fifth consecutive win.
Yamal gave Barça a two-goal lead with strikes in the 30th and 37th minutes while Dani Olmo extended their advantage right after the break with a first-time effort from close range.
Pedri scored the fourth with a tap-in in the 64th minute while Girona substitute Christian Stani netted a consolation goal in the 80th, six minutes before Barca were reduced to 10 men when forward Ferran Torres was given a straight red card for a nasty studs-up challenge on yaser Asprilla.
“Lamine is a difference-maker,” Girona coach Míchel said in a news conference. “For me, he is already one of the best players in the world at 17 years of age.
“It is difficult to imagine that after Messi another [like him] would come along, but I hope that Lamine keeps improving because he’s a player than can reach that level.”
Prior to Sunday’s brace against Girona, four of Yamal’s five goal contributions had arrived via assists, with Barça coach Hansi Flick welcoming the addition of more goals to his game.
“I was really happy because he scored the goal,” Flick said of his reaction to the opening goal. “Lamine normally gives the last pass and I was happy that he scored today.”
Yamal’s opening goal came via Barça’s high press, which particularly impressed Flick and has been a characteristic of his team’s unbeaten start to the new campaign.
“We started the match very concentrated, very focused and we pressed them really good,” the German coach added.
“The first goal was unbelievable, really good from Lamine [in the press], and we deserved the win and the result.
Barça are top of LaLiga with 15 points, four ahead Real Madrid and Villareal. Girona are seventh on seven points.