Under normal conditions, Barça would be tearing their clothes off for losing two points against a competitive and neat Girona. At another time, the Blaugrana team would regret more their offensive ineptitude and their poverty of resources. But at the current situation in the League, the draw against Míchel's team serves to increase his income. They are already 13 points ahead of Madrid and the title is a little closer. As closer is salvation for Girona. It can be said that everyone left mathematically happy, although Barcelona, whatever the situation, you always have to demand more of. His football, with the casualties, has lost a lot of north, although he already counts the weeks to proclaim himself champion.
It was a game without urgency. With Barça already thinking of throwing a tie to the League and Girona installed in a relatively comfortable position, the function was joyful and festive. As a finish to the dates of Easter and with a relaxed Camp Nou Xavi decreed two changes in the eleven with respect to the cupbearer disaster against Madrid. Eric Garcia came on for Marcos Alonso and Ansu Fati for Kessié. He went on to play for Barcelona with a supposedly bigger bite up top, although in practice the number 10 moved a lot inside, filtering balls and as a fourth midfielder, rather than as a winger.
In front, Míchel asked his Girona to act with personality and daring. Led by Oriol Romeu and Arnau Martínez, Montilivi's team stood in the leader's house as if it were their living room and moved the ball judiciously.
During various phases of the first half, Girona cared for the ball wisely and with an offensive vocation. Tsygankov and Castellanos shot wide and Girona had a presence.
Of course, when Barça managed to activate their pressure, their cracks and their gifts in the form of lost balls appeared. In one of them Ansu Fati enabled Lewandowski, slow, who finished off high and in another Ansu himself cut and triggered with intention. His shot grazed the post. When the Girona goalkeeper, Gazzaniga, did have to intervene, it was on a transfer to his own goal from Bueno, who was in a tris of slipping. The goalkeeper would also get an excellent hand after Raphinha's incursion and another saving throw from Araújo. The Uruguayan and Camp Nou half asked that the ball had crossed the line. At least part of the ball went in but without goal technology it was impossible to tell what had actually happened.
In the midst of these occasions, a good general tone of Girona and an irregular Barça, with difficulties to be creative in the static attack, dotted. Xavi demands more clairvoyance from three quarters of the field upwards but the Barcelona forwards still find it difficult to combine beautifully. It is not Raphinha's forte, Lewandowski looked very rusty and only Ansu Fati showed more spark than in previous games. When no one knew what to do, Balde, the fittest player in the squad, was sent to play to penetrate and cross. A somewhat bulky resource and too poor for a Blaugrana team that greatly misses the heavyweights it has in the infirmary.
Going through the changing rooms did not change the dress of the match, even though Kessié appeared at Barça and the reappeared Aleix Garcia at Girona. Xavi was impatient in the band but his fuss was not working either and he helplessly attended long possessions by Míchel's team. In one of them Castellanos received a phenomenal through ball that left him alone against Ter Stegen. With everything in favor he sent her out.
That serious notice woke up Barça a bit, who locked up Girona and began to swing around their area. But without excessive continuity or, above all, quality. Xavi was thinking about the matter and decided that Alba would enter to act as a winger ahead of Balde. Emergency solution to his team's offensive problems, with a very slow Lewandowski.
At least Alba came out with enthusiasm and electricity. It wasn't enough to move the score either, despite a poisoned header from Gavi that disrupted Gazzaniga and a heel shot from Lewandowski that almost went into the net. Girona started their second draw at the Camp Nou in three visits. The work of Míchel's men was commendable and they neutralized a Barça that doesn't seem to give much of itself. And still he will come out champion. Except cataclysm.
