Barcelona send shirt, invite Florida shooting victim Anthony Borges to Camp Nou

Published on: 01 March 2018

A hat-trick from Suarez, brace from Messi, and Coutinhos wonder-strike helped Barcelona cruise past an intimidated Girona, who failed miserably in their first ever outing to the Camp Nou. Watch all the goals from the Catalan derby here. Watch the full match highlights as Luis Suarezs hat-trick, Messis brace, and Coutinhos first goal in the Spanish colours completed Barcelonas 6-1 riot against a much-weaker Girona side in the Catalan Derby. Girona took the lead inside three minutes at Camp Nou, but Barcelona responded quickly and often, putting six goals past the European hopefuls. Girona's early lead at Camp Nou was short lived as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez orchestrated a masterful Barcelona win to continue their march toward the La Liga crown. Girona's early lead at Camp Nou was short lived as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez orchestrated a masterful Barcelona win to continue their march toward the La Liga crown.

Barcelona have invited Anthony Borges, one of the victims of last month's Florida school shooting, to meet Lionel Messi and the rest of the first-team squad before taking in a game at Camp Nou once he has recovered.

The club also offered their own medical team to aid the recovery of Borges, who was shot five times as he saved the lives of 20 of his fellow students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Borges, 15, was shot in his legs and back as he barricaded a classroom door to protect others as the assailant opened fire. He remains in hospital, where he has undergone extensive surgery.

In total, 17 people were killed when an expelled classmate opened fire at the school on Feb. 14.

Following the incident, Barca were alerted to the fact that Borges, whose family is from Venezuela, spent two months playing for the club's academy in Lauderhill, near Fort Lauderdale, in 2016.

In a phone call with Borges' father this week, the club have subsequently invited Borges to the city to meet the players and have sent a signed first-team shirt to the hospital.

"It was journalist Santiago Segurola who set things in motion, informing the club of the situation," Barca said in a statement. "We immediately offered the support of our own medical services to help ensure that Anthony gets all the surgery he needs to get back to enjoying one of his greatest passions, playing soccer, as soon as possible."

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