Barcelona missed the chance to climb back to the top of La Liga after suffering a dramatic derby defeat to Girona at Estadio Montilivi.
The decisive moment came late in the game when substitute Fran Beltran struck in the 86th minute, handing the home side a crucial victory that lifts them five points clear of the relegation zone. The result leaves Hansi Flick’s team two points behind rivals Real Madrid in the title race.
Barcelona felt hard done by in the build-up to the winning goal, believing defender Jules Kounde had been fouled. After a brief VAR check, however, the goal was allowed to stand.
The match was intense from the opening whistle. Girona forced goalkeeper Joan Garcia into action inside the first minute, showing their intent against the league leaders. Barcelona, by contrast, appeared sluggish and wasteful in front of goal.
Teenage forward Lamine Yamal endured a frustrating evening. He missed two close-range chances before striking a penalty against the base of the post in first-half stoppage time, a moment that proved pivotal.
Barcelona eventually broke the deadlock in the 59th minute. Defender Pau Cubarsi rose to meet Kounde’s cross and looped a header into the top corner for his first league goal for the club.
But the lead lasted just two minutes. Midfielder Thomas Lemar finished from close range after a centre from Vladyslav Vanat, scoring for the second consecutive game.
Girona thought they had taken the lead again 10 minutes later when a speculative header from Viktor Tsygankov slipped through Garcia’s grasp. However, the goalkeeper was awarded a foul after a push on the goal line.
The home side were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when substitute Joel Roca brought down Yamal with a reckless challenge. Yet Barcelona could not find a way back, slipping to their second defeat in a week following the 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final loss to Atletico Madrid.
Girona’s win ends a three-game winless run and lifts them to 12th in the table. Barcelona, meanwhile, face mounting pressure. Real Madrid travel to Osasuna on Saturday, before Barca host Levante on Sunday, with the title race hanging in the balance.
