MX23RW : Thursday, January 31 08:07:46
Jan 27, 2019 at 3.15pm UK at ​Estadi Municipal de Montilivi (Girona)
Attendance: 14,021
GironaGirona
0-2
Barcelona

Espinosa (51')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Semedo (9'), Messi (68')

Valverde turns attention to Copa del Rey after Barcelona win again in LaLiga

Valverde turns attention to Copa del Rey after Barcelona win again in LaLiga
© Reuters
Barca are five points clear at the top of LaLiga.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde immediately turned his attention to Wednesday's vital Copa del Rey quarter-final after his side recorded an eighth successive LaLiga victory.

The leaders restored their five-point advantage at the top with a 2-0 win over Girona on Sunday after Nelson Semedo's first goal for the club was followed by Lionel Messi's 19th league strike of the season.

The winning run is the best under Valverde's management, but the Barca boss is already thinking about overturning a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of their cup tie at home to Sevilla in midweek.

"Today's match was key because it's a derby and because we know how Girona play, as they're an intense and great team, but now we'll recover tomorrow and start thinking about Wednesday," he said in his post-match press conference, according to Marca.

"Our hope is to go through. We made changes the other day (leaving out the likes of Messi and Sergio Busquets) with respect to today's line-up.

"We have three matches in six days this week and there's also a very important one against Valencia (on Saturday), but it's true that what matters to us right now is the Copa del Rey.

"I don't want another result like the other day."

Valverde also defended Philippe Coutinho, who has scored just once in the last 15 matches and failed to sparkle again against Girona, who had Bernardo Espinosa sent off before Messi made the game safe.

"What I like about him is that he always tries things and takes on his man," the Barca boss added about Coutinho.

"It might work or it might not. He had chances today, but didn't score because their goalkeeper is excellent.

"He'll convert other chances soon."


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Barcelona forward Lionel Messi scores against Getafe on January 6, 2019.
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona21154258213749
2Atletico MadridAtletico21128132131944
3Real Madrid2112363426839
4Sevilla21106536221436
5AlavesAlaves219572224-232
6Getafe218762518731
7Valencia2161142218429
8Real Betis218582526-129
9Real Sociedad217682524127
10Levante217593240-826
11EibarEibar216872630-426
12Athletic Bilbao2151152226-426
13Real Valladolid216781924-525
14GironaGirona215972328-524
15Espanyol2173112334-1124
16Leganes215882026-623
17Rayo Vallecano2165102536-1123
18Celta Vigo2156103336-321
19Villarreal213992129-818
20Huesca2126131739-2212

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