Lamine Yamal failed from the spot as Barcelona squandered a chance to reclaim the top of La Liga, losing a fiery Catalan derby against Girona. Hansi Flick’s side now trail Real Madrid by two points after substitute Fran Beltran struck in the 86th minute at Estadio Montilivi. The goal sealed all three points for the home team and eased relegation fears.
Controversy and late drama
Barcelona believed defender Jules Kounde had been fouled before Girona’s winner, but VAR confirmed the goal stood. Girona finished with ten men when substitute Joel Roca brought down Lamine Yamal with a lunging challenge midway through stoppage time. Despite the advantage, Barcelona could not find an equaliser and suffered just their third league defeat against regional rivals.
Barcelona’s back-to-back setbacks
The defeat marks Barcelona’s second loss in succession after a 4-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday. Girona pressed from the first whistle, forcing keeper Joan Garcia into a save inside the opening minute. By contrast, Barcelona appeared sluggish, missing several golden chances. Yamal struggled, failing twice from close range and blasting a penalty off the base of the post in first-half stoppage time.
Goals and responses
Barcelona broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when centre-back Pau Cubarsi looped a header into the top corner from right-back Kounde’s cross, marking his first league goal for the club. Girona responded immediately, as midfielder Thomas Lemar tapped home Vladyslav Vanat’s cross two minutes later for his second goal in consecutive games. Ten minutes after that, Girona nearly scored again when Garcia failed to collect Viktor Tsygankov’s speculative header, though a shove from Roca on the goalline led the referee to award a foul.
Girona ends winless streak
The victory lifts Girona out of a three-game winless run, moving them up to 12th place and five points clear of the relegation zone. Barcelona’s league winning streak ends at three games, leaving them vulnerable to a five-point gap at the top. Real Madrid face Osasuna on Saturday, while Barcelona host Levante on Sunday.
