Barcelona stunned as Girona deliver crushing blow in La Liga title race
Girona produced a stirring comeback to defeat Barcelona 2–1 at the Estadio Montilivi, securing their first win in four matches and preventing the Blaugrana from reclaiming top spot in the LaLiga standings.
Barcelona fashioned the first meaningful opportunity inside five minutes, but Lamine Yamal failed to generate sufficient curl on his effort, sending it wide of the target.
Aside from the lively Fermin Lopez, the visitors lacked sharpness in the opening exchanges, which allowed Girona’s attacking duo, Vladyslav Vanat and Bryan Gil, to grow into the contest.
Fermin soon created an opening for Raphinha, while Lamine was later afforded ample space in a promising position, yet both chances went begging. Ferran Torres also came close in what had developed into an open, end-to-end encounter.
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At one end, Vanat squandered a gilt-edged opportunity from Gil’s precise delivery. At the other, Barcelona unleashed a flurry of attempts, managing to test the goalkeeper only once from eight first-half efforts — including a strike from Raphinha that rebounded off the base of the post.
Drama unfolded just before the interval when Dani Olmo was brought down in the area by Daley Blind. However, Barcelona failed to capitalise, as Lamine struck the same post from the penalty spot with the final kick of the half.
Olmo later tried his luck from a distance early in the second period, but Girona remained a threat on the counterattack.
As the hour mark approached, the tempo dipped before Thomas Lemar injected urgency into proceedings, forcing Barcelona onto the defensive. Moments later, Pau Cubarsi rose highest to head home from a Jules Kounde cross, netting his maiden league goal for Barcelona and putting the visitors in front beyond the reach of Paulo Gazzaniga.
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Girona responded almost immediately. Lemar was on hand to convert from close range after Barcelona’s defence switched off, restoring parity within minutes.
The momentum then swung decisively in favour of the hosts, with Joan Garcia producing two outstanding one-handed saves to keep Girona in the contest as the clock ticked down.
With just four minutes remaining, Fran Beltran delivered the decisive blow, drilling a low effort beyond the goalkeeper to complete the turnaround and ignite celebrations at Montilivi.
Although Girona were reduced to 10 men following a late red card for Joel Roca, the dismissal proved inconsequential as they held on for a memorable victory.
Barcelona had previously won four of their five away league meetings against Girona, scoring 12 goals across those fixtures. This defeat, therefore, represents a significant missed opportunity for Hansi Flick’s side, who now trail Real Madrid by two points in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested LaLiga title race.
