FC Barcelona Suffer Title Blow After Derby Defeat to Girona FC as Lamine Yamal Misses Penalty

Spanish champions Barcelona suffered a damaging 2–1 defeat away to Girona on Monday night, dealing a significant setback to their La Liga title defence and leaving them two points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.

Real Madrid had moved top of the table following their victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday, and Hansi Flick’s side were unable to respond in a gripping Catalan derby at Montilivi.

Barcelona were left to rue missed opportunities, most notably a penalty miss from teenage winger Lamine Yamal. The visitors had taken the lead just before the hour mark through defender Pau Cubarsí, but goals from Thomas Lemar and Fran Beltrán completed an impressive comeback for 12th-placed Girona.

Flick: “We Defended Very Badly”

“In the end, Girona deserved it. They created many chances and we defended very badly,” admitted Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick.

“We are not in a good moment. I have given the team two days off because I think it is important they reset.

“There is still a long way to go. We are now second, and we must fight to return to first place.”

Barcelona entered the contest still reeling from last week’s heavy 4–0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final — a result that has compounded concerns over their recent form.

“We have to improve because they cannot score those two goals against us,” said Cubarsí. “We must be self-critical. We did not play a great match. Now we have to rest and recharge.”

Missed Chances Prove Costly

Both sides attacked with intensity in an open first half, yet remarkably went into the interval goalless.

Raphinha curled narrowly wide, while Yamal fired straight at Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga when clean through on goal. At the other end, Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat squandered several promising opportunities.

Barcelona’s pressure intensified after the break. Ferran Torres fired wide and Raphinha struck the woodwork as the visitors sought a breakthrough.

They were handed a golden opportunity when Dani Olmo was clumsily brought down in the penalty area by Daley Blind, but Yamal’s spot-kick rebounded off the post.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 59th minute when Cubarsí rose to head home from a cross delivered by Jules Koundé.

Girona Turn the Tide

Girona responded swiftly. Lemar evaded Eric García and converted Vanat’s pass from close range to level the score.

Momentum shifted decisively in the hosts’ favour. Barcelona were forced to rely on several outstanding saves from goalkeeper Joan García, who produced a remarkable double stop to deny Iván Martín and Vanat, before thwarting Joel Roca with his leg.

Despite the resistance, Girona found a decisive winner in the 87th minute. Beltrán calmly stroked home from the edge of the area to spark wild celebrations among the home supporters.

Barcelona were incensed in the build-up, believing Koundé had been fouled by Claudio Echeverri in the lead-up to the goal, but their appeals went unanswered.

“It looked like a foul to me, but we cannot focus on decisions we cannot control,” said defender Gerard Martín.

Flick described the incident as “clear”, but refused to hide behind officiating decisions.

“I would speak about that if we had played well, but we did not. It would sound like an excuse,” he said.

“The officials do their job. Sometimes it is not perfect, but we were not at a good level either.”

Girona were reduced to ten men in stoppage time when Roca brought down Yamal to halt a late Barcelona attack, yet it proved inconsequential as the hosts secured a memorable victory.

“Three points against Barcelona are worth more than three,” said Girona coach Míchel Sánchez. “They usually beat almost everyone.”

The result leaves the title race finely poised, with Barcelona now under mounting pressure to respond in the weeks ahead.