Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the La Liga clash between Girona and Barcelona from Catalonia. Barcelona have won their last seven in the league, but only sit two points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Girona, meanwhile, currently occupy 13th spot in the table with 24 points from their 20 league matches this term. Stay tuned!

TEAMS!

GIRONA: Bono; Juanpe, Espinosa, Alcala; Fernandez, Granell, Pons, Porro; A Garcia, Stuani, Portu

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Vidal, Busquets, Rakitic; Coutinho, L Suarez, Messi

Girona's leading scorer Cristhian Stuani was an unused substitute in Thursday's Copa del Rey defeat to Real Madrid, but the forward returns to the starting XI for this match. Portu and Pere Pons also return for Girona, but Johan Mojica, Aday and Carles Planas are all still on the sidelines.

As for Barcelona, Lionel Messi returns having been left out of the Copa del Rey clash with Sevilla during the week. Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho also earn recalls, while the same can be said for the likes of Jordi Alba, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Sergio Busquets. Kevin-Prince Boateng, Malcom and Carles Alena are those to drop out, while Samuel Umtiti, Ousmane Dembele and Rafinha are still on the treatment table for the Catalan outfit.

Sunday will be just the fourth La Liga meeting between the Catalan rivals. Barcelona won their first clash 3-0, before recording a 6-1 win at Camp Nou last season. That said, Girona picked up a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou when they made the trip in La Liga earlier this term.

KICKOFF:  Girona kick things off on home soil...

... this should be a really good match. Girona have already showed their intent early on by committing a number of players forward, and they are enjoying some good early possession.

Barcelona's 3-1 win over Leganes last weekend proved to be their seventh straight La Liga victory. Entering Week 21 in Spain's top flight, Ernesto Valverde's side had a five-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid, but that gap is now down to two points.

Barcelona will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat away to Sevilla in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final on Wednesday night. Valverde made a number of changes for the trip to the Estadio Ramon and Sevilla proved too strong on the night, meaning that Barcelona have serious work to do in the second leg if they are to continue in the competition.

There is no question that the Catalan giants would sacrifice another Copa del Rey title for the Champions League, however, and they will travel to Lyon in the first leg of their last-16 tie in just under a month. A La Liga and Champions League double would represent a very good season for Barcelona, especially considering that they have not been without their issues during the 2018-19 campaign.

Barcelona have only lost once on the road in La Liga this term - a 2-1 defeat at Levante on September 26 - but Girona are certainly capable of causing problems in this match. Not too much to report early on, but Ter Stegen's handling has been tested early on here.

Five wins, nine draws and six defeats - that is how Girona have performed in La Liga this season, with a total of 24 points leaving them in 13th position. Rakitic has just attempted to find Luis Suarez with a through pass, but there was too much weight on the ball.

GOAL!  GIRONA 0-1 BARCELONA (SEMEDO)

Barcelona make the breakthrough in the ninth minute as the ball breaks for Semedo inside the box and the right-back smashes a powerful attempt into the bottom corner of the net!

Girona have actually lost the same number of league matches this season as Real Madrid and had they managed to turn a couple of their draws into wins, Eusebio Sacristan's side would be close to the top six at this stage. That said, Girona have not actually picked up all three points in a La Liga match since the end of November. Indeed, in seven league fixtures since then, they have drawn four and suffered three defeats. They are heading for another defeat here though!

Girona are showing their intent as they continue to force the issue in the final third. Another cross comes into the Barcelona box and Stuani goes down, but there is no decision.

CLOSE!  Huge chance for Girona as Alcala rises highest to meet a deep free kick, but his header is over the crossbar! The high ball is causing Barcelona problems here.

SAVE!  Coutinho breaks into a shooting position, but the Brazilian's effort is saved by Bono! Excellent work from the Girona goalkeeper there.

I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals here as both teams continue to commit numbers in the final third of the field. Girona will fancy their chances of scoring here.

Alba has a problem for Barcelona following a challenge with Porro, but it does seem that the defender will be fine to continue. Still 1-0 with 20 minutes on the clock in Catalonia.

Messi attempts to dance past a number of challenges inside the box, but Espinosa is across to make a last-ditch challenge. End-to-end football at the moment in the Catalan derby.

CLOSE!  Messi's strike from distance just misses the post!

The 2017-18 campaign proved to be Girona's first ever season in La Liga; there is absolutely no question that the team performed above expectations, with a 10th-placed finish quite remarkable. This weekend will be just the second time that Girona have welcomed Barcelona and they found it difficult against their rivals at the Estadio Montilivi last time out, suffering a 3-0 home defeat.

The rain is really coming down now, making the pitch extremely fast.

Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and the home supporters are in fine voice at the moment. Barcelona, however, are the team probing for a second goal here.

Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they work the ball in the final third of the field. The visitors now have a free kick just outside the box as Espinosa fells Messi...

YELLOW CARD!  Espinosa (Girona) is booked for the foul on Messi.

Messi's free kick hits the wall.

YELLOW CARD!  Lenglet (Barcelona) is booked for bringing Portu to the deck.

CLOSE!  Portu's header from a Fernandez cross is just wide of the post.

Rakitic breaks into a very dangerous position and attempts to find Messi, but Bono does very well to make the claim. The offside flag is raised though!

Fernandez swings a deep cross out for a goal kick as Girona threaten again.

Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and Semedo's goal is still the difference between the two teams. Girona are currently the team on the front foot though.

YELLOW CARD!  Vidal (Barcelona) is booked for a high boot.

Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and Girona are really forcing the issue at the moment as they continue to deliver high balls into the Barcelona box. The likes of Pique and Lenglet continue to be tested aerially, particularly with Stuani in close proximity.

SAVE!  Ter Stegen keeps out attempts from Stuani and Pons in quick succession!

Girona remain on the front foot as we approach the half-time break here.

Busquets (Barcelona) is booked for an elbow on Alcala.

CLOSE!  Granell misses the target with a strike from distance!

HALF TIME:  GIRONA 0-1 BARCELONA

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading Girona at the break courtesy of a super strike from Semedo. The home side have had a number of opportunities to hit back, but Semedo's goal is the difference at the break.

STATISTICS! Barcelona had 55% of the ball in the first period, while they managed four attempts, two of which were on target. Girona, meanwhile, hit the target with three of their eight attempts in the opening half of action. There have also been four yellow cards, with Espinosa in the book for Girona and Lenglet, Vidal and Busquets for Barcelona.

BENCH WATCH! Girona have a number of attacking options on their bench this afternoon, with the likes of Lozano, Luiz and Paik all capable of making a difference. Barcelona, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Boateng, Arthur, Malcom and Denis Suarez.

KICKOFF:  Barcelona resume the action here...

... no changes from either side at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops.

CLOSE!  Messi misses the crossbar with a free kick.

Girona have three substitutes warming up at the moment and the home side have plenty of talent in reserve, there is no question about that. End-to-end football at the moment here.

SAVE!  Ter Stegen makes a super save to keep out a low drive from Stuani!

RED CARD!  ESPINOSA!

Espinosa receives his second yellow for a poor tackle on Luis Suarez and Girona are down to 10 men, which is going to make it so tough to come back into this match.

Barcelona are having loads of the ball at the moment as they look for a second.

There have been some late challenges in this match and I suspect that we have not seen the last of the cards, with Rakitic the latest player to be on the receiving end from Garcia.

SAVE!  Ter Stegen is again down to keep out a strike from Stuani!

CHANCE!  Another big chance for Girona as Stuani delivers a low cross towards Portu, but Busquets does so well to make a last-ditch challenge!

BARCELONA SUB! Vidal is replaced by Arthur for Barcelona.

Barcelona have a concern over Semedo here, with the defender taking a late tackle from Pons. This is a proper derby, make no doubt about that! Still 1-0 to the visitors here.

We have not seen loads from Messi this afternoon, but the Argentine is starting to get on the ball more and more as Barcelona look for the game's second goal here.

Little over 25 minutes of the second period remaining and Girona are still throwing plenty of players forward in search of a leveller. Surely there is another goal in this match.

Girona have plenty of attacking players on their bench this afternoon and it would not be a surprise to see a change made in the next few minutes. Still 1-0 to Barcelona here.

Messi dances into the Girona box before delivering a cross, but Bono is on hand to make the claim. Barcelona are passing and probing in the final third at the moment here.

GOAL!  GIRONA 0-2 BARCELONA (MESSI)

And there is the game's second goal. Barcelona double their advantage as Alba delivers a low pass into Messi and the Argentine expertly lifts the ball over Bono!

YELLOW CARD!  Juanpe (Girona) is booked for dissent.

GIRONA SUB! Luiz has replaced Garcia for Girona here.

Little over 15 minutes of the second period remaining and Barcelona are looking for more goals. Girona are struggling for energy at the moment, which is not much of a surprise.

Barcelona are preparing to make their second change of the match. There is a lot of space for the away side at the moment with Girona's energy levels not quite what they were.

CLOSE!  Luis Suarez curls an attempt over the Girona crossbar.

SAVE!  Wonderful save from Bono to keep out a close-range attempt from Messi!

BARCELONA SUB! Vermaelen replaces Lenglet for Barcelona.

SAVE!  Smart save from Bono to keep out a long-range Arthur strike.

Barcelona are going to re-open a five-point lead at the top of the table as they close on their eighth straight league success. Valverde's side will not be stopped in the league.

GIRONA SUB! Lozano replaces Portu for Girona.

BARCELONA SUB! Busquets is replaced by Roberto for Barcelona.

Little over five minutes of the second period remaining and Girona are still 2-0 behind. The home side have done their best to upset Barcelona here, but it just has not happened.

GIRONA SUB! Paik replaces Granell for the home side.

Not too much to report in the last few minutes. Girona have had some good possession in the last few minutes, but without threatening to set-up a grandstand finish here.

YELLOW CARD!  Stuani (Girona) is booked for a late challenge on Arthur.

We are into the second of three additional minutes at the end of the match.

CHANCE!  Coutinho sees his goal-bound attempt cleared off the line by Juanpe!

FULL TIME:  GIRONA 0-2 BARCELONA

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona running out 2-0 winners over Girona to move five points clear at the top of La Liga. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live commentary once again. See you next time!