What a way to set a new club record!
Girona arrived at the Camp Nou as one of the form teams in La Liga, enjoying a fantastic first-ever season in the Spanish top flight which has included not losing to Atletico Madrid (twice) and Real Madrid.
However, they were completely dismantled by Barcelona despite taking the lead, the Blaugrana setting a new all-time club record of 32 league games unbeaten in the process.
Luis Enrique takes part of the credit for the seven games at the end of last season when Barca didn’t lose, but Ernesto Valverde can claim the lion’s share of the plaudits for going 25 matches from the start of 2017/18 without losing in the domestic competition.
That’s one better than the incredible 2010 vintage, coached by Pep Guardiola.
In a number of them, his direct influence from the bench has been what’s won the Catalans the match. Substitutions have been particularly impressive from a coach that has quietly gone about his business with aplomb.
Against Girona, the front three of Messi, Suarez and Coutinho were unplayable, and a chief reason why Pablo Machin’s excellent side were picked apart with ease.
Indeed, Barcelona played so well, that there’s not too much doubt that they are the La Liga champions-elect. In this sort of form, who can match them?
The final 6-1 score line actually flattered a Girona side that could’ve lost by eight or nine. Luis Suarez hit the post with a fine effort, whilst Messi also had one cleared off the line. Girona goalkeeper, Bono, went flying to his left to deny the Argentinian from a free-kick that was arrowing into the top corner too.
Portu opening the scoring for the visitors only succeeded in awakening the beast, but a much tougher test awaits within the week.
Atletico Madrid are Barcelona’s nearest pursuers and though they don’t have the greatest record against the Blaugrana in Diego Simeone’s tenure, they could benefit from Valverde having to rotate his staff to save burnout later.
A home win for Barca in that one puts them squarely in the box seat with only 11 games left to play.
With less than a third of the season left, supporters are already getting excited about a potential unbeaten campaign, but that will be furthest from the player’s minds.
Nelson Semedo is out for a minimum of five weeks, Gerard Pique may need to be rested to fully get over his niggling injury and Ousmane Dembele still needs games to get him up to speed, so Valverde has more pressing matters to attend to – particularly in view of a Champions League return against Chelsea.
In any event, whatever this side go on to achieve this season, due respect should be paid to them all.
Unbeaten in a top European league going into March is sensational however you dress it up.
