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Lionel Messi gave Barcelona an early lead on Sunday, however the defending Spanish champions needed to come from behind to earn some extent in a 2-2 draw towards Girona after taking place a person within the first half and and a aim within the second.
Messi opened the scoring for the hosts within the nineteenth minute, ending a reasonably go from summer season recruit Arturo Vidal. Barca gave the impression to be in full management of the match at that time, however the momentum modified 16 minutes later when defender Clement Lenglet — making his first begin for Barcelona — was proven a pink card for what the referee, after video assessment, decided was a reckless elbow to the pinnacle of Girona midfielder Pere Pons.
Cristhian Stuani equalized for the guests simply earlier than the halftime whistle sounded, and he put Girona on prime simply after the break with a rocket of a shot that shocked the group on the Camp Nou. Messi almost pulled the short-handed hosts degree with free kick within the sixtieth minute, however the Argentine’s curling left-footed effort hit the crossbar.
Girona keeper Yassine Bono stopped one other Messi free kick moments later. Nevertheless, the Montreal-born Bono — who made 9 saves earlier than the competition was over — was powerless to maintain out Barca defender Gerard Pique’s rebound header within the 63rd minute after saving a point-blank Luis Suarez shot that was arrange superbly by Messi.
Barcelona continued to pepper Bono’s aim with pictures for the rest of the match. However even controlling 68-percent of the possession regardless of taking part in with 10 gamers for nearly an hour, the house crew couldn’t discover the late winner.
The draw snapped Barcelona’s excellent begin to the season and left them atop La Liga on aim distinction, tied on factors with rival Actual Madrid after 5 video games.
Doug McIntyre covers soccer for Yahoo Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
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• McIntyre’s 23 Ideas: MLS vs. Liga MX, Sounders’ streak, Vemes on USMNT
• Pulisic scores Champions League winner for Dortmund on his twentieth birthday
• Messi opens Champions League group stage with beautiful free kick (video)
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