Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome Girona for what will be just the second ever Catalan derby between these two teams. Barcelona were 3-0 winners in the reverse match earlier this season - can Girona shock the league leaders to claim all the points tonight? Stay tuned for what should be a very interesting game of football!

As mentioned, their clash in Girona earlier this season proved to be their first ever league meeting. In truth, it was a comfortable 90 minutes for Barcelona, with two own-goals and a strike from Luis Suarez seeing Ernesto Valverde's side collect all three points. Tonight marks a historic night for Girona as they travel to Camp Nou for the first time in their history. It is a brilliant occasion.

Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Girona have had a free week to prepare for this match, but Barcelona were in Champions League action on Tuesday night – drawing 1-1 with Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 tie. Any changes? Let's see...

TEAMS!

BARCA: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Coutinho; Dembele, Suarez, Messi

GIRONA: Bono; Maffeo, Ramalho, Juanpe, Bernardo, Aday; Pere Pons, Granell; Portu, Borja Garcia; Lozano

Barcelona boss Valverde has made three changes to the team that started against Chelsea on Tuesday night, with Ruben Semedo, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele coming in for Sergi Roberto, Andres Iniesta and Paulinho. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez also both start in what is a very attacking XI.

© Offside

As for Girona, head coach Pablo Machin has shuffled his pack following the 3-0 win over Leganes last time out. Choco Lozano - who left Barcelona B for Girona last month - is preferred to Cristhian Stuani in the final third of the field, while on-loan Manchester City full-back Pablo Maffeo and Spanish midfielder Pere Pons also return to the XI. The visitors will seemingly start with a five-man defence.

So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff at Camp Nou. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's first start with Barcelona. As mentioned, the Catalan giants will enter the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with English champions Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.

A first competitive visit to Camp Nou - welcome, @GironaFC! 👋
🔵🔴 #BarçaGirona pic.twitter.com/vRhwO6eKoP — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 24, 2018

Brazilian attacker Willian hit both posts before sending Chelsea ahead just past the hour at Stamford Bridge, but Barcelona hit back through Lionel Messi as the Argentine scored his first ever goal against the Blues. The Spanish giants were far from their best in London, but are in a very strong position to finish the job in the second leg at Camp Nou next month.

In terms of the league, Barcelona have the chance to move 10 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid with a win tonight. Indeed, Valverde's side have won 19 and drawn five of their 24 league games this season, with that record bringing them 62 points. They have scored more goals (62) than anyone else, and have the second-best defensive record in La Liga behind Atletico.

Barcelona were 2-0 winners at Eibar last weekend, but they were held to a goalless draw by Getafe in their last league fixture at Camp Nou on February 11. Valverde's side have actually drawn two of their last three in the league, but have plenty of room for manoeuvre due to their incredible form to this point.

1 - Barcelona are unbeaten in their 19 Catalonian league derbies played since February 21 2009 (1-2 at Camp Nou against Espanyol, W15 D4 since). Duel. pic.twitter.com/bmCKwDjRQv — OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 24, 2018

In terms of what is ahead for Barcelona, the Catalan giants will travel to Las Palmas for their next league match on March 1, before hosting second-placed Atletico on March 4. They will then visit Malaga on March 10, before welcoming Chelsea for the second leg of their last-16 tie four days later.

Barcelona also have the final of the Copa del Rey against Sevilla in April, and Valverde's side are very much on for a treble this season. Atletico will still believe that they can catch the Catalan side in the league, but it would take some effort from Diego Simeone's team. One thing is for sure, Atletico will have to win at the Camp Nou at the start of next month if that is to occur!

As for Girona, the White and Reds are having a wonderful first season in the top flight of Spanish football. Indeed, a total of 34 points from 24 matches has left them in ninth position – just four points off sixth-placed Villarreal. They have won nine of their 24 fixtures, drawing seven and losing eight.

De què deuen parlar @CristhianStuani i @LuisSuarez9 abans del derbi?

¿Sobre qué estarán hablando los killers?#ElNouDerbi #BarçaGirona pic.twitter.com/ynCiIkPpSA — Girona FC (@GironaFC) February 24, 2018

Machin's side have actually only lost one of their last six in the league, and that was a 1-0 defeat at Sevilla. They picked up a brilliant point away to Atletico last month, and have beaten Athletic Bilbao and Leganes at home in recent weeks. For many, they are the story of this La Liga campaign.

Girona will also enter this match having lost just four of their 12 away league games this season, which is extremely impressive. They have also only conceded 30 times in La Liga this term, and will feel that they are well placed to pick up what would be a historic win at Camp Nou tonight. Right, the two teams have joined us on the field - kickoff in this Catalan derby is now just moments away!

KICKOFF! Barcelona kick things off at Camp Nou...

... Barcelona start on the front foot as Semedo races down the right before delivering low towards Suarez, but the ball evades the striker, and Girona manage to clear their lines.

It appears that Barcelona mean business here as they continue to move the ball sharply in the final third of the field. Girona are just having to sit deep and defend their lines at the moment here.

Oh my word! What a start! Girona take the lead in the third minute of this match as poor defending from Umtiti allows Portu to break into a dangerous position, and the number nine finds the back of the net off the post! Incredible start from Girona, who had been on the back-foot since the first whistle.

Well, that did not last long! Barcelona level the scores in the fifth minute as Suarez races onto a through pass from Messi before slotting the ball past Bono. Incredible start to this match.

Half-chance for the away side as Lozano breaks into a dangerous position for the away side, but the number 19 fires high and wide of the crossbar. It is all happening at the moment here.

Girona continue to commit players in the final third of the field, with Portu and Garcia joining Lozano on the counter-attack. I would be absolutely astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this match. Barcelona have just won a free kick in a very dangerous position as Messi is felled...

... SAVE! Smart save from Bono to keep out Messi's free kick.

Messi finds Dembele with a through pass, but the Frenchman cannot take the ball in his stride, and Girona eventually have players back to clear. Just a little bit short of confidence, Dembele. Alba then breaks into the Girona box to meet a pass from Messi, but the left-back's touch is too heavy.

Aday is almost playing as a winger for Girona at the moment rather than a full-back/wing-back. Girona have not come here to sit deep, they want to attack this Barcelona team.

Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they look to work the ball into the Girona penalty box.

OFF-THE-LINE! Brilliant defending from Bernardo as the Girona defender manages to head a Messi chip over the crossbar! Messi's effort was dropping into the back of the net!

Dembele breaks into an advanced area for the home side, but the Frenchman hammers high and wide of the crossbar. You sense that Dembele could really do with a goal in this game tonight.

Well, 23 minutes on the clock, and we are level at 1-1. It really has been a super game of football at Camp Nou, with both teams showing their attacking quality. More of the same please.

Dembele delivers a couple of good crosses into the Girona box, but the away side manage to survive a couple of dangerous moments. You fancy that the next goal will soon arrive here.

SAVE! Smart save from Bono to beat away an effort from Suarez.

Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they look to work space inside the Girona box.

CLOSE! Messi just misses the crossbar with a powerful strike!

Messi has his 21st league goal of the campaign as the Argentine dances past a host of Girona challenges before squeezing the ball into the bottom corner of the net!

Girona need to be careful here as Barcelona continue to move the ball in the final third.

As it stands, Barcelona are moving 10 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who face Sevilla tomorrow night. That said, Girona are still more than in this football game at Camp Nou.

Barcelona have a free kick in a dangerous area as Bernardo fells Suarez...

... GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Girona (Messi)

Barcelona have their third, and Messi has his second. The Argentine scores direct from the free kick as his low effort goes under the wall - dropping into the bottom corner of the net!

SAVE! Smart save from Ter Stegen to keep out a header from Lozano.

Decent pressure from Girona in the last few moments. Indeed, a corner towards the back post causes Ter Stegen some problems, before Granell curls one just wide of the far post.

It must be said that this has been a wonderful first half of football in Catalonia. Girona took a shock lead inside three minutes, but Barcelona, and in particular Messi, has been excellent since then.

Suarez has his second of the match as the striker taps a low Coutinho cross into the bottom corner following a stunning move. Messi, as expected, was involved, and Suarez finished it off!

Good grief. Incredible first half of action. Girona took the lead inside three minutes, but Barcelona have scored four times since then to secure a strong advantage. Messi, who has been stunning, has two, while Suarez has also come up with two goals for the hosts in the first period here.

STATISTICS! Barcelona dominated the first-half possession with 61%, while they had 11 attempts - seven of which were on target. Girona, meanwhile, actually had seven attempts, but only two of those were on target. No yellow cards to report in the first period - it has not been that type of match.

BENCH WATCH! Douglas Luiz and Stuani are both on the Girona bench tonight, but it may well be that head coach Machin keeps those two in reserve for next week's match against Celta Vigo. As for Barcelona, Paulinho, Iniesta, Roberto and Vidal are among those hoping for a run-out here.

RESTART! Girona resume the action here...

... GIRONA SUB! Planas has replaced Aday for the away side.

Dembele will want to get his name on the scoresheet in the second period; Barcelona have scored four times tonight, but the Frenchman is yet to register. Girona will continue to attack, which suggests that we have not seen the last of the goals. Let's hope for more of the same here.

Plenty happening in the early stages of the second period as Barcelona move the ball in the final third of the field. Girona are finding it very difficult to prevent the little passes taking place here.

Pique looks to have a problem for the home side as he goes down holding his right knee.

Pique does not look happy at all here, and Vermaelen has been sent to warm up.

Pique is back, which is a huge surprise. Why risk him?

WIDE! Lozano breaks into the Barcelona box, and just misses the near post.

POST! Suarez curls the ball against the post following super work from Dembele!

SAVE! Bono keeps out a strike from Messi as Barcelona continue to threaten.

CLOSE! Another opportunity for the home side as Dembele breaks into the Girona box before looking to pick out the far corner, but the ball just drifts wide of the far post.

Barcelona are preparing to make a change as Paulinho receives his instructions, but Pique is still on the field. Vermaelen perhaps need a little while to warm up before he is introduced here.

We have still not had a yellow card in this match, but Umtiti is perhaps a touch fortunate to get away with picking up one after coming through the back of Portu. Still 4-1 to the home side here.

BOOKING! Juanpi (Girona) is booked for a foul on Dembele. Good timing!

GIRONA SUB! A.Garcia replaces B.Garcia for the away side.

BARCELONA SUB! Vermaelen replaces Pique for the home side.

Girona are definitely sitting deeper in this second period as they look to avoid conceding more goals. That said, I would be very surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this match.

Wonderful goal from Coutinho as the Brazilian works some space outside the Girona box before curling a sensational effort into the back of the net via the post. Stunning finish!

Super defending from Semedo as the Barcelona right-back manages to clear ahead of Portu after Ter Stegen had palmed the ball into his own box. Decent work from Girona on the break there.

Messi is felled by Bernardo just outside the Girona box...

BARCELONA SUB! Paulinho replaces Busquets for the home side.

SAVE! Wonderful save from Bono to keep out Messi's free kick!

GIRONA SUB! Portu is replaced by Luiz for the away side.

Just a reminder that Barcelona are going to move 10 points clear of second-placed Atletico in the table. Atletico will have the chance to make it seven once again when they face Sevilla tomorrow.

Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Barcelona are chasing more goals here. Dembele will be absolutely desperate to get his name on the scoresheet in the latter stages here.

Suarez has one deflected over the Girona crossbar as Barcelona force the issue once again.

Suarez has his third of the night as the Uruguay international strokes a low Dembele cross home!

BARCELONA SUB! Roberto replaces Rakitic for the home side.

Barcelona have been simply excellent tonight, there is no question about that.

Girona just about manage to scramble the ball clear following another sustained period of pressure. Messi, Suarez, Dembele and Coutinho all want more goals in the final 10 minutes here.

Alba dances into the Girona box after collecting a clever pass from Messi, but Juanpe just about manages to make the challenge. Barcelona are not exactly having mercy on the away side.

CROSSBAR! Bono saves a Vermaelen header onto the crossbar!

Paulinho chases back to challenge Pons as Barcelona look to keep their second-half clean sheet in tact. There is still a good tempo to the match despite the score being 6-1 in the 85th minute.

It looks like Semedo might have pulled his hamstring for Barcelona here.

BOOKING! Alba (Barcelona) is booked for a pull on Maffeo.

The tricks are out as Coutinho and Suarez both show excellent footwork down the left. Coutinho has enjoyed himself in this second period, and the Brazilian looks more at home.

Semedo has gone off the field, meaning that Barcelona will finish the game with 10 men.

We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the 90 here.

SAVE! Ter Stegen has to tip a Garcia strike over the crossbar from distance!

SAVE! Another super Ter Stegen save to deny Ramalho!

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona running out 6-1 winners over Girona at Camp Nou. What a performance from the league leaders! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. See you soon!