MADRID (AP) — Another teenager has made history for Barcelona in the Spanish league.
Seventeen-year-old Marc Guiu scored around 30 seconds into his first-team debut to give the Catalan club a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, becoming the second-youngest player to score in his league debut.
Malaga's Fabrice Olinga was 16 when he scored against Celta Vigo in his debut in 2012. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal became the youngest scorer in the Spanish league in a 2-2 draw against Granada before the international break.
Guiu came off the bench and after two touches was celebrating the game-winning goal in the 80th minute that moved Barcelona to third place in the standings.
Guiu sprinted toward the area after a pass by João Félix and found the net with a low shot that beat Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simón for his first goal. The victory gave Barcelona 24 points after 10 matches, one point behind league leaders Real Madrid and Girona.
Barcelona got the win despite playing without several regular starters, including Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Jules Koundé and Sergi Roberto.
Xavi's team entered a demanding week that includes a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and a “clasico” against Madrid on Saturday.
Bilbao dropped to sixth place with the loss, its second in three matches.
GIRONA AT THE TOP
Girona continued its impressive run by coming from behind to beat last-place Almeria 5-2 and join Real Madrid at the top.
The Catalan club scored three goals in a six-minute span toward the end of the first half to erase a two-goal deficit and went on to pick up its eighth win in 10 matches. It has 25 points after 10 rounds, the same as Madrid which was held to a 1-1 draw at Sevilla on Saturday.
Artem Dovbyk scored a pair of goals for host Girona, whose only loss was to Madrid two rounds ago.
Almeria, the only team yet to win in the league this season, surprised with early goals by Léo Baptistão in the second and 24th minutes at Montilivi Stadium.
Iván Martín pulled Girona closer in the 37th and Dovbyk moved the hosts ahead with goals in the 39th and 43rd minutes. Sávio and Cristhian Stuani scored late to seal the victory for Girona, which is partly controlled by Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi ownership.
LATE RAYO WIN
Rayo Vallecano ended a streak of four consecutives draws with a 1-0 win at Las Palmas, with Bebé converting a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time.
The victory moved Rayo to seventh place, while Las Palmas — coming off two consecutive victories — stayed 12th. Las Palmas forward Munir El Haddadi missed a first-half penalty kick.
Spanish media said one person was arrested following a fight between fans from both teams on Saturday night.
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