Catalan minnows Girona, second and now trailing leaders Real Madrid by one point
\nBARCELONA
\nShock title challengers Girona dropped two vital points in La Liga with a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
\nBarcelona, third, earned a 3-1 win at Alaves in La Liga on Saturday with Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque scoring and then sent off in a lively appearance off the bench.
\nCatalan minnows Girona, second and now trailing leaders Real Madrid by one point, could not find a way through against their Basque visitors. Los Blancos face city rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu and can potentially move four points clear at the top.
\nGirona\u2019s draw leaves them six points ahead of champions Barcelona, third, and they were left upset after Yangel Herrera had a goal ruled out for offside in the build-up. The offside against Savinho occurred 36 seconds before the midfielder found the net, set up by the Brazilian winger, with Girona arguing VAR should not have intervened. Some crosses had been half-cleared by Real Sociedad before Savinho scooped the ball to the back post for Herrera.
\n\u201cThe reality is that if there\u2019s a second, third phases (of play), VAR should not get involved, I think it\u2019s obvious,\u201d said Michel.
\n\u201cBeyond the goal ruled out, I think it was a very, very difficult game … and it\u2019s a good point.\u201d
\nDespite leading the league in goals scored, Michel Sanchez\u2019s side were largely kept at arm\u2019s length by La Real.
\nAfter Herrera\u2019s goal was disallowed, Real Sociedad\u2019s Mikel Oyarzabal also had one chalked off for a clearer offside infringement.
\nAlex Remiro made a solid save to deny Herrera in the final stages as the hosts were frustrated and Michel was sent off for complaining on the touchline.
\nValery Fernandez missed a fine chance in stoppage time after Yan Couto scrapped hard to win the ball back and crossed for the Spanish winger.
\nWithout La Liga\u2019s joint top goalscorer Artem Dovbyk, who watched from the stands after suffering knee discomfort according to Spanish reports, Girona did not shine in attack.
\nThey will have the chance to make amends next weekend when they visit Real Madrid in a crunch showdown.
\nHowever coach Michel will not be in the dugout, while Herrera and Daley Blind were both booked and are also suspended for the key clash.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t like that they sent me off, I protested, it\u2019s true, but I didn\u2019t lack respect for anyone,\u201d said Michel.
\n\u201cThe red card leaves me furious.\u201d
\nChampions Barcelona took the lead against Alaves through Robert Lewandowski in the first half and doubled their advantage when Ilkay Gundogan volleyed home soon after the break.
\nSamu Omorodion pulled a goal back for the hosts before 18-year-old striker Roque pounced and a few minutes later was harshly dismissed.
\nBarcelona\u2019s victory helps them cut the gap on league leaders Real Madrid to seven points before Los Blancos face Atletico Madrid in a derby clash Sunday.
\nThey have won both of their matches since Xavi announced last weekend he would leave the club at the end of the season.
\nXavi selected Andreas Christensen in defensive midfield for the first time in his Barcelona career, with the Catalans still unable to find a reliable replacement for Sergio Busquets.
\nThe Danish defender was solid and showed Xavi he is an option for the future in the role.
\n\u201cHe was comfortable, aggressive, didn\u2019t lose the ball, kept his eyes open \u2014 we were good on transitions, he gave us discipline,\u201d Xavi told reporters.
\nRoque, who arrived in the January transfer window from Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense, was on the pitch less than 15 minutes after he was shown two yellow cards.
\nThe second was for an innocuous challenge on Rafa Marin, but there was no video review as VAR cannot ask officials to check second yellow card incidents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Catalan minnows Girona, second and now trailing leaders Real Madrid by one point BARCELONA Shock title challengers Girona dropped two vital points in La Liga with a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad on Saturday. Barcelona, third, earned a 3-1 win at Alaves in La Liga on Saturday with Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque scoring and then […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":385366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-385359","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n