Artem Dovbyk's goal set Girona on their way
Girona underlined their La Liga title credentials with a famous victory at Barcelona to move top of the table.
Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Miguel Gutierrez, Valery Fernandez and Cristhian Stuani gave the visitors a deserved first ever league win over their Catalan rivals.
Robert Lewandowski's header and Ilkay Gundogan's late goal were mere consolations for Barca.
The result sees Girona open up a two-point gap to Real Madrid.
Michel's side are also seven clear of third-placed Atletico Madrid and Barca, who are fourth.
Girona's rise to the top may have taken many by surprise but on this evidence they have the quality to stay the course.
Ukraine forward Dovbyk's eighth goal of the campaign set them on their way in the 12th minute and came after he was expertly teed up by his international team-mate Viktor Tsyhankov, who beat the home side's offside trap to escape down the right channel.
And while Lewandowski headed in an equaliser from Raphinha's corner to draw Xavi's side level seven minutes later, the visitors always carried a considerable threat on the counter.
Spain Under-21 left-back Gutierrez restored their lead with a surging run and left-foot finish into the left corner five minutes before the break.
Fernandez looked to have rounded off the scoring in the 80th minute with a fine strike from Stuani's flick-on after he had skipped past Barca defender Jules Kounde.
German midfielder Gundogan briefly raised hopes of a home fightback in added time, but they were quickly extinguished by Stuani.
The Uruguay forward tapped in Girona's fourth at the back post to cap a special night for the club, who have never finished higher than 10th and are only in their fourth season in La Liga.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBarcelona
Formation 4-3-3
13Peña Sotorres23Koundé4Araujo15Christensen2Cancelo21F de Jong22Gündogan8Pedri11Raphinha9Lewandowski14João Félix
- 13Peña Sotorres23Koundé4AraujoBooked at 90mins15ChristensenSubstituted forBaldeat 65'minutes2Cancelo21F de Jong22Gündogan8PedriSubstituted forLópezat 80'minutes11RaphinhaSubstituted forF Torresat 65'minutes9Lewandowski14João FélixSubstituted forYamalat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Balde7F Torres18Romeu20Roberto26Astralaga27Yamal31Kochen32López33Cubarsí
Girona
Formation 3-4-2-1
13Gazzaniga25García5López17Blind20Bueno Couto23Martín14García3Gutiérrez8Tsygankov16Moreira de Oliveira9Dovbyk
- 13Gazzaniga25García5López17BlindBooked at 64mins20Bueno CoutoSubstituted forFernándezat 78'minutes23MartínSubstituted forSolísat 87'minutes14García3Gutiérrez8TsygankovSubstituted forPortugués Manzaneraat 78'minutes16Moreira de Oliveira9DovbykSubstituted forStuaniat 73'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Martín Corral2Bernardo4Martínez6Kébé7Stuani11Fernández15Ramírez López22Solís24Portugués Manzanera26Fuidias
Referee:Isidro Díaz de Mera EscuderosAttendance:42,848Match StatsHome TeamBarcelonaAway TeamGironaPossessionHome53%Away47%ShotsHome31Away15Shots on TargetHome11Away7CornersHome8Away3FoulsHome7Away10Live Text Post update
Match ends, Barcelona 2, Girona 4.
90'+8'Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Girona 4.
90'+8'Booking
Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
90'+8'Post update
Foul by Fermín López (Barcelona).
90'+8'Post update
Jhon Solís (Girona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+7'Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Aleix García.
90'+7'Post update
Attempt blocked. Fermín López (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lamine Yamal.
90'+6'Booking
Cristhian Stuani (Girona) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
90'+5'goalGoal!
Goal! Barcelona 2, Girona 4. Cristhian Stuani (Girona) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sávio.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by João Cancelo (Barcelona).
90'+4'Post update
Portu (Girona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross.
90'+2'goalGoal!
Goal! Barcelona 2, Girona 3. Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ferran Torres.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt missed. Ferran Torres (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by João Cancelo.
90'Post update
Attempt missed. Jhon Solís (Girona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Cristhian Stuani.
89'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jhon Solís (Girona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Fermín López (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan with a headed pass.
88'Post update
Attempt blocked. Fermín López (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by João Cancelo with a cross.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Girona. Jhon Solís replaces Iván Martín.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona) header from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross.
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Source: bbc.com