Lionel Messi made his feeling plain towards referee Jesus Gil Manzano at the final whistle after Barcelona's controversial with Girona.

Gerard Pique's header spared 10-man Barca's blushes as Girona denied them victory for the first time this season in the Catalan derby.

Messi had given the home side an early lead, but they were forced to play for almost an hour a player short after defender Clement Lenglet was sent for an early bath following a coming together with midfielder Pere Pons.

The Barcelona superstar let rip at the officials

Manzano consulted the video assistant referee before giving Lenglet his marching orders and the decision proved costly as Cristhian Stuani's double put the visitors in control.


However, Messi was furious with the decision to dismiss Lenglet and remonstrated with Manzano at the final whistle.

Barcelona's Clement Lenglet is shown a red card
Lenglet heads for an early bath

The Argentine ace appeared to snub the ref's handshake and his manager Ernest Valverde was equally unhappy at full-time.

He said: "It handicapped us, we had bad luck to concede just before the end of the first half. We couldn't come back.

"I haven't seen the incident on the television, there's a clear collision and it seems that there's an elbow. It's the first sending off where the player fouled apologises."