Girona 0-2 Barcelona: 3 reasons why Barca won | LaLiga 2018-19

#2 Ter Stegen’s brilliance

Ter Stegen was at his best again

Barcelona arrived at the Estadi Montilivi with their eyes firmly set on an eighth consecutive league victory. However, everything didn’t go to plan initially, and the defending champions were accorded a scare in the first period.

Yet whenever Girona threatened, they came face to face with Barcelona’s 'German wall', Ter Stegen.

In the first half, Cristhian Stuani was sent through on goal after some sloppy play by the visitors. Ter Stegen wasn’t to be fazed, and he produced a wonderful right-footed save.

Even after the break, Stuani had a couple of chances to get the better of Ter Stegen, but the Uruguayan was thwarted expertly by the latter.

To cap off his sublime display, the keeper popped up with a superlative pass to set in motion the attack for Barcelona’s second goal.

At times, Barcelona were under the cosh at the Montilivi Stadium, and had Ter Stegen not come up trumps in those situations, the Catalan derby would’ve assumed a different outlook altogether.

Goalkeeping is a pretty thankless job, yet on Sunday the German proved exactly why every top team needs a world-class stopper.