FC Barcelona, ​​carried by its Spanish European champions Lamine Yamal, author of a double, Dani Olmo and Pedri, signed a fifth victory in five days on Sunday by beating Girona in a big way (4-1) in the Catalan derby and maintain the lead in the championship.
The Blaugrana club, still unbeaten and first in La Liga with 15 points and 17 goals from five games, will travel to Monaco full of confidence on Thursday for the first day of the Champions League, while Girona (7th, 7 points) Paris on Wednesday without certainty for his big debut in the European Cup.
Catalan prodigy Lamine Yamal (17) launched his team perfectly with a double in seven minutes, first by stealing the ball between the feet of defender David Lopez to deceive opposition goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga (30th, 1-0) and then a perfect flat left foot after a poorly rejected free-kick (37th, 2-0).
The second and third goals of the season for the Spanish European champions, decisive in every game since the start of the season (3 goals, 4 assists in 5 games) and well on their way to winning the Golden Boy trophy, which is the best prospect rewarded from world football.
Returning from the dressing room, it was Barcelona summer recruit Dani Olmo who widened the gap with a half volley into the tight corner on an excellent service from former Rennais Raphinha (47th, 3-0). His third goal in three professional games with his training club, which he returned to this summer after more than ten years between Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig.
Pedri, his team-mate in selection, joined the party (64th, 4-0) to cap another convincing collective display from Hansi Flick’s men, even if Girona eventually salvaged the honors at the end of the game by his Uruguayan veteran Cristhian Stuani , 37 years old (80th, 4-1).
Barça ended the game with ten men after the logical exclusion of Ferran Torres, who entered the game a few minutes earlier (86th), responsible for a sole.
Griezmann still decisive
Later in the evening, Atlético Madrid, future opponent of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, won without trepidation on their turf against Valencia (3-0), led by Antoine Griezmann once again decisively.
The French striker, who was already involved in the opening score of the Englishman Conor Gallagher (39th, 1-0), the first time under his new colors, doubled the lead in the second half as a good surface fox ( 54th, 2- 0).
Argentine Julian Alvarez, who arrived from Manchester City this summer, also opened his counter and sealed the fate of the game at the end of extra time (90th + 4, 3-0) to beat Atlético (3rd, 11 points) to bring back. the podium, tied with Real (2nd) and four points behind FC Barcelona (1st, 15 points).
Valencia (20th, 1 point) remains bottom with this fourth defeat in five days.
In the afternoon, Celta Vigo (5th, 9 points) confirmed its good start to the season by logically winning (3-1) at home against promoted Valladolid (17th, 4 points), especially thanks to a new goal from the Spanish striker Borja Iglesias .
Athletic Bilbao (8th, 7 points) returned to success by beating Las Palmas (3-2), despite a second half ending in numbers after the sending off of Mikel Jauregizar.