Barcelona have re-opened a five-point lead at the top of La Liga courtesy of a 2-0 win over Girona in Sunday afternoon's Catalan derby.

Nelson Semedo made the breakthrough in the first half, before Lionel Messi netted in the second as 10-man Girona lost to their rivals once again.

© Reuters

After a fairly even start, Barcelona made the breakthrough in the ninth minute and it was a wonderful strike from Semedo, who smashed the ball into the bottom corner after it broke loose inside the Girona box.

Girona had a fair shout for a penalty in the 12th minute when their leading scorer Cristhian Stuani had his shirt pulled inside the Barcelona box, but the officials were not interested.

Pedro Alcala then headed a deep free kick over the Barcelona crossbar in the 14th minute as the high ball continued to cause the Spanish champions problems in Catalonia.

Barcelona's next opportunity arrived in the 16th minute when Philippe Coutinho broke into the Girona box, but the Brazil international could not find a route past Bono.

Messi was next to try his luck for the away side in the 23rd minute, and the Argentine's effort from outside the box was not too far away from finding the top corner of the net.

Girona were a constant threat down the other end, however, and Portu headed wide of the post in the 32nd minute at the end of another quick counter-attack from the bright hosts.

The rain continued to fall as the first period approached its latter stages and Girona continued to force the issue with a series of high balls into the Barcelona box.

Stuani and Pere Pons both had good chances to level the scores in the final stages of the first period, but the pair were denied by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in quick succession.

© Reuters

Messi sent a free kick wide of the Girona post early in the second period, before Ter Stegen had to keep out a low drive from Stuani in the 50th minute during an end-to-end spell of the match.

Girona's task became harder in the 51st minute when Bernardo Espinosa picked up his second yellow card for a late challenge on Luis Suarez, leaving the home side with 10 men for the majority of the second period.

Stuani again tested Ter Stegen in the 55th minute, before Barcelona needed Sergio Busquets to make a last-ditch challenge to clear ahead of Portu, who had threatened to meet a low Stuani cross.

Barcelona doubled their advantage in the 69th minute, however, when Jordi Alba's low pass was gathered by Messi and the Argentine expertly chipped the ball over Bono to all but end Girona's challenge.

Luis Suarez curled over 15 minutes from time as Barcelona, who have now won their last eight in the league, looked for a third, before Messi was somehow denied by Bono in the 77th minute.

Girona continued to deliver high balls into the Barcelona box late on, but the away side, who came close to adding to the scoring through Coutinho and Luis Suarez late on, kept their clean sheet in tact to make it another strong afternoon in the league.

GIRONA (3-4-3): Bono; Juanpe, Espinosa, Alcala; Fernandez, Granell (Paik 86'), Pons, Porro; A Garcia (Luiz 70'), Stuani, Portu (Lozano 81')

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet (Vermaelen 77'), Alba; Vidal (Arthur 58'), Busquets (Roberto 82'), Rakitic; Coutinho, L Suarez, Messi