Pedri came off the bench to score the winner as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to six points with a slender win over Girona.
The 20-year-old, who was playing his 100th game in all competitions for Barcelona, tapped home from four yards after Jordi Alba’s cross was fumbled by Fulham loanee Paulo Gazzaniga.
The win extends Barcelona’s unbeaten run to nine league games.
They have 47 points with Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, on 41 points.
Real Madrid host third-placed Real Sociedad on Sunday at 20:00 GMT.
Girona, who only had two shots on target late in normal time, are 12th, four points clear of the relegation zone.
They had manager Michel sent off in second-half stoppage time after his protests for a foul by Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Barcelona were without Poland striker Robert Lewandowski and Spain forward Ferran Torres through suspension and lacked potency in the forward areas.
France winger Ousmane Dembele also went off in the first half, with what looked like a thigh injury.
Xavi’s side are unbeaten in La Liga since losing 3-1 to Real Madrid on 16 October – winning eight and drawing once – and are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions.
They are looking to win La Liga for the first time since 2018-19.
Line-ups
Girona
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Gazzaniga
- 4MartinezBooked at 74mins
- 2Bernardo
- 15Ramírez LópezSubstituted forMartínat 81′minutes
- 3Gutiérrez
- 20CoutoSubstituted forVilla Suárezat 70′minutes
- 18Romeu
- 14García
- 17RiquelmeSubstituted forRocaat 81′minutes
- 21HerreraSubstituted forFernándezat 59′minutes
- 9CastellanosBooked at 44minsSubstituted forStuaniat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Martín
- 7Stuani
- 8Tsygankov
- 11Fernández
- 12Villa Suárez
- 16Hernández Cabrera
- 23Martín
- 24García
- 25Callens
- 26Fuidias
- 33Roca
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 23Koundé
- 4Araújo
- 24García
- 17AlonsoSubstituted forAlbaat 45′minutes
- 30GaviBooked at 49mins
- 5Busquets
- 21F de Jong
- 22RaphinhaSubstituted forKessieat 88′minutes
- 10Ansu FatiBooked at 43minsSubstituted forBaldeat 81′minutes
- 7DembéléSubstituted forPedriat 26′minutesBooked at 45mins
Substitutes
- 2Bellerín
- 8Pedri
- 13Peña Sotorres
- 15Christensen
- 18Alba
- 19Kessie
- 20Roberto
- 28Balde
- 31Astralaga
- 32Torre
- 38Alarcón
- Referee:
- Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz
- Attendance:
- 13,402
Live Text
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Match ends, Girona 0, Barcelona 1.
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Second Half ends, Girona 0, Barcelona 1.
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Attempt saved. Cristhian Stuani (Girona) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Arnau Martinez with a cross.
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Foul by Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona).
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Arnau Martinez (Girona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Girona. Aleix García tries a through ball, but Arnau Martinez is caught offside.
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Foul by Pedri (Barcelona).
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Aleix García (Girona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Offside, Girona. Paulo Gazzaniga tries a through ball, but Arnau Martinez is caught offside.
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Corner, Girona. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
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Foul by Alejandro Balde (Barcelona).
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Joel Roca (Girona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Joel Roca (Girona) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the right. Assisted by Valery Fernández with a cross.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Franck Kessie replaces Raphinha.
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Attempt missed. Iván Martín (Girona) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Aleix García with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Toni Villa (Girona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joel Roca with a headed pass.
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Foul by Alejandro Balde (Barcelona).
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Joel Roca (Girona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Alejandro Balde replaces Ansu Fati.
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Substitution, Girona. Iván Martín replaces Juanpe.
