Girona delivered a stunning upset on Monday, defeating defending La Liga champions Barcelona 2-1 in a gripping derby clash. The result leaves Barcelona trailing league leaders Real Madrid by two points, significantly complicating their title defense.
The match, played in front of a fervent home crowd, saw Barcelona struggle to break down a resilient Girona side. Despite dominating possession and registering 27 shots on goal, the Catalans found themselves frustrated by a combination of inspired goalkeeping from Paulo Gazzaniga and their own profligacy in front of goal. A first-half penalty, awarded after a foul on Dani Olmo, offered a golden opportunity to take the lead, but teenage sensation Lamine Yamal saw his spot-kick strike the post.
Barcelona finally broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through defender Pau Cubarsi, heading home a cross from Jules Kounde. However, the lead proved short-lived. Just two minutes later, Thomas Lemar capitalized on a defensive lapse, turning home a pass from Vladyslav Vanat to level the score. The goal shifted the momentum firmly in Girona’s favor.
Girona completed the comeback in the 86th minute with a goal from Fran Beltran. The goal was met with protests from Barcelona players, who believed that defender Eric Garcia was fouled in the build-up, but the referee waved away their appeals. Barcelona threw everything forward in a desperate attempt to salvage a point, even sending goalkeeper Joan Garcia forward for late set-pieces, but Girona held firm.
The defeat represents a significant setback for Barcelona, who had briefly topped the La Liga table after Real Madrid’s victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday. Hansi Flick’s side now face a mounting challenge to retain their title, with Real Madrid demonstrating consistent form at the top of the league. This loss follows a heavy defeat in the Copa del Rey to Atletico Madrid, adding to the pressure on the Barcelona manager.
The match was characterized by an open, attacking style from both sides, with numerous chances created throughout the first half. Raphinha came close for Barcelona, firing a shot narrowly wide, while Vanat squandered several opportunities for Girona. The intensity continued after the break, culminating in a dramatic finish that saw Girona secure a memorable victory.
The result underscores Girona’s growing competitiveness in La Liga. While currently sitting 12th in the table, their performance against the champions demonstrates their potential to cause upsets and climb the standings. For Barcelona, the defeat serves as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in a fiercely competitive league. Their inability to convert a significant number of chances into goals proved costly, and they will need to address this issue if they are to mount a successful title defense.
Barcelona’s next fixture will be closely scrutinized as they attempt to respond to this disappointing result. The pressure is now firmly on Flick and his players to rediscover their form and close the gap on Real Madrid. Girona, meanwhile, will look to build on this impressive victory and continue their climb up the La Liga table.
The late red card shown to Girona’s Joel Roca for a dangerous tackle on Yamal in stoppage time did little to change the outcome, with the damage already done. The incident added a further layer of drama to an already captivating encounter.
