A breathless Catalan derby that shifted the gravity of the La Liga title race; Girona pulled off a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Barcelona. Hansi Flick’s side arrived at the Estadio Montilivi needing a win to reclaim the summit; instead, they left two points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid after a night defined by missed opportunities and defensive lapses.
Barcelona’s first half was a masterclass in frustration. Despite dominating the early exchanges, the league leaders were haunted by the goalposts:
Raphinha's return: Making his first start back from injury, the Brazilian was lively but saw a low drive rattle the post.
Yamal’s penalty: On the stroke of halftime, Lamine Yamal had the golden chance to put Barca ahead from the spot after Dani Olmo was fouled. He beat the keeper, but his strike crashed off the base of the upright.
The second half finally saw the deadlock broken, only for the game to descend into chaos shortly after:
Breakthrough (59'): Teenager Pau Cubarsi rose highest to head home a Jules Kounde cross from a short corner, marking his first-ever league goal for the club.
Instant response (61'): Before Barca could settle, Girona’s Thomas Lemar silenced the traveling support, tapping in a cross from Vladyslav Vanat after a lapse in concentration by the Barca backline.
Final blow (86'): Substitute Fran Beltran became the hero of Montilivi, steering a Joel Roca pass into the bottom corner to secure the win.
| Category | Girona | FC Barcelona |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 2 (Lemar 61', Beltran 86') | 1 (Cubarsi 59') |
| Shots (On Target) | 6 (4) | 14 (5) |
| Possession | 42% | 58% |
| Woodwork Hits | 0 | 2 |
| Discipline | 1 Red Card (Roca 90+9') | 0 |
| League Standing | 12th (Ease Relegation Fears) | 2nd (Trailing Real Madrid) |
Girona’s victory not only moves them five points clear of the relegation zone but also snaps a three-game winless run. For Barcelona, the focus now shifts to a must-win home fixture against Levante to prevent the two-point gap behind Real Madrid from widening.
We lacked a bit of everything. We need to be self-critical. After my goal, they scored very quickly to equalise. We got them back into the game too quickly. Keep your head down and improve.Pau Cubarsi, Barcelona Defender