FC Barcelona opened a six-point lead at the top of the LaLiga standings after defeating Girona 1-0 on Saturday evening.
Eric Garcia, Marcos Alonso, Gavi and Ansu Fati got a return to the Blaugrana starting eleven following the narrow Copa del Rey victory over Real Sociedad in midweek.
A nervous moment for the home team very nearly gave Barca a route in when Fati stole possession off Paulo Gazzaniga's hesitant play though the keeper recovered and kept matters goalless.
French international Ousmane Dembele pulled up five minutes to the half-hour mark and was rightfully withdrawn for Pedri after the former couldn't carry on playing.
Girona began to unsettle the Blaugrana before the closing exchanges and closed-in to the lead from a throw-in, but to no avail as the counterparts cleared their lines.
The table-toppers regained momentum and worked their way through the area to bring Pedri on strike from a clever angle, but goalkeeper Gazzaniga kept out the midfielder.
Barca named another substitution before the second half got underway in veteran fullback Jordi Alba in place of former Chelsea defender Alonso.
Furthermore, the Catalans brought the first opening of the resumption when Raphinha volleyed a loose ball from a cutback in the area over the top of goal.
Girona, though, succumbed to the pressure over 61 minutes after Pedri helped in a loose ball as Gazzaniga had spilled a telling cross from Alba.
The host looked for a quick turnaround through a move involving Arnau Martinez, but he didn't manage to get past goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
As the minutes to full-time loomed, Girona missed a big chance to draw level when Ivan Martin snapped a surging ball from the right wide with the goal in sight.
More chances fell for the hosts in the latter minutes, but they were unable to breakthrough and Barcelona emerged 1-0 winners and maintained top spot in LaLiga.
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