IN SPORT.ES
Barcelona’s 100 percent start to the season ended on Sunday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Girona.
Lionel Messi gave Barça a deserved lead but Clement Lenglet’s red card changed the game in the 35th minute.
With a one-man advantage, two Cristhian Stuani goals helped Girona edge ahead but Gerard Pique salvaged a point for Barca in the 63rd minute.
Barca were left to lament the dismissal of Lenglet, who was making his first start in the league since signing from Sevilla in the summer.
The French centre-back looked to have cut out a pass to Pere Pons but the referee, using VAR, decided that he’d elbowed the Girona player in the process.
Barca players and fans were incensed by the decision, which was a soft one, but it stood.
Messi’s goal had Barca one-up at that point, a brilliant first time finish after good work from Nelson Semedo and Arturo Vidal.
However, boosted by their numerical advantage, Girona turned the game around, with two Pique mistakes leading to two Stuani goals.
Pique’s slip allowed the Uruguayan to level before the break and the Barça defender was then beaten by Portu after the break. Portu’s shot was saved by Stuani scored the rebound.
Ernesto Valverde responded by bringing on Ivan Rakitic and Philippe Coutinho as Barca pressed for three points.
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They got one goal back, Pique heading home from close range, but they couldn’t find a winner, their 100 percent winning start to the season coming to an end in week five.