Girona drop vital points in title race, Barca beat Alaves
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 sent off in a lively appearance off the bench.
Catalan 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.
Girona's 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.
"The reality is that if there's a second, third phases (of play), VAR should not get involved, I think it's obvious," said Michel.
"Beyond the goal ruled out, I think it was a very, very difficult game ... and it's a good point."
Despite leading the league in goals scored, Michel Sanchez's side were largely kept at arm's length by La Real.
After Herrera's goal was disallowed, Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal also had one chalked off for a clearer offside infringement.
Alex 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.
Valery Fernandez missed a fine chance in stoppage time after Yan Couto scrapped hard to win the ball back and crossed for the Spanish winger.
Without La Liga's joint top goalscorer Artem Dovbyk, who watched from the stands after suffering knee discomfort according to Spanish reports, Girona did not shine in attack.
They will have the chance to make amends next weekend when they visit Real Madrid in a crunch showdown.
However coach Michel will not be in the dugout, while Herrera and Daley Blind were both booked and are also suspended for the key clash.
"I don't like that they sent me off, I protested, it's true, but I didn't lack respect for anyone," said Michel.
"The red card leaves me furious."
Champions 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.
Samu Omorodion pulled a goal back for the hosts before 18-year-old striker Roque pounced and a few minutes later was harshly dismissed.
Barcelona's 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.
They have won both of their matches since Xavi announced last weekend he would leave the club at the end of the season.
Xavi 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.
The Danish defender was solid and showed Xavi he is an option for the future in the role.
"He was comfortable, aggressive, didn't lose the ball, kept his eyes open -- we were good on transitions, he gave us discipline," Xavi told reporters.
Roque, 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.
The 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.
Barcelona coach Xavi said Friday La Liga was "completely adulterated" by rivals Real Madrid because of heavy criticism towards officials broadcast on the club's television channel.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti dismissed Xavi's words as "unprofessional" but Roque's red card will only add more fuel to the flames.
"We will appeal it because it's clear that it's an error, it's another error from the referee towards us," Xavi told DAZN.
"Evidently it's an unfair red card."
-
Freedom from Dissent打造加州鲈良种“4S”门店?继拿下国家级良种场,梁氏种业又一大手笔布局[INTERVIEW] Revolutionary change for N. Korea possible if China stops deportationsBrexit: Parliament votes to seek deadline extension.应对高温 户外驿站送清凉交通指示设施规范 市民出行更安全N. Korea discusses light industry, state budget at party meetingJoe Biden, millennial work ethic, The Simpsons’ Michael Jackson episode, and Maren Morris.Best Labor Day mattress deals in 2024Police to operate smartwatch location tracking system to protect victims from violent crimes
- ·AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 may get revealed at the Apple September event
- ·Live blog: Apple reveals new software at WWDC 2020
- ·强化司法保障 护航绿美雅安
- ·How to have a socially distanced 420
- ·12 Places that Celebrate Women in Science
- ·New Zealand mosque shootings, U.S. immigration policy, New York City and climate change.
- ·2nd North Korean nuclear reactor appears to be operational, IAEA says
- ·Live blog: Apple reveals new software at WWDC 2020
- ·Speeding space object triggered a warning. It wasn't an asteroid.
- ·Beto O’Rouke’s first
- ·Man gets 10
- ·Putting South Korea’s smallest city on the map
- ·By a technicality, August's full moon is blue. Here's why.
- ·高温天气外出 赤膊光膀失文明
- ·江门市“三支一扶”人员红色加速营培训班圆满举办
- ·How to watch Jeff Bezos go to space on Blue Origin New Shepard
- ·Project 2025 Comstock Act: Trump’s new abortion comment exposed.
- ·Moon says no prerequisites for inter
- ·What needs to happen before your boss can make you return to work
- ·This bus plays voice messages from loved ones outside people's homes
- ·优化广东优质农产品产销资源对接!“农友圈”又有新动作
- ·Twitch bans Donald Trump’s channel for 'hateful conduct' on stream
- ·How to play podcasts on your Amazon Alexa
- ·2024年全国和美乡村篮球组织管理培训班在海南琼海开班
- ·16 of the Most Epic Sandwiches Around the Planet
- ·生活如此多“椒”,广西融安彩椒进入采收期
- ·Yoon, US Senate's armed service committee chief discuss alliance, N.K. threats
- ·Twitter flags another Trump tweet for 'abusive behavior'
- ·UNICEF provides nutrition supplies for 160,000 N. Korean pregnant women
- ·What to expect at WWDC 2020: Plenty of new features across all Apple devices
- ·应对高温 户外驿站送清凉
- ·烈日下挥汗如雨 坚守工作第一线
- ·Wisconsin judge blocks Republican power grab stripping power from Tony Evers.
- ·Apple announces 'App Library,' new iMessage features, and more in iOS 14
- ·The Apple iPod: Pocket Music Before That Phone
- ·Moon says no prerequisites for inter