Barcelona missed a golden opportunity to reclaim the top spot in La Liga as Girona stunned the Catalan giants with a dramatic 2-1 victory at home, courtesy of Fran Beltrán’s late strike. The defeat leaves Barcelona frustrated after 24 matches, while Girona continue their mid-table climb.
From the very first whistle, the match at Girona’s Estadi Montilivi showcased an attacking spectacle from both sides. Barcelona created several promising chances, with Rafinha and Lamine Yamal coming close, yet neither could find the back of the net in the first half.
In added time of the opening period, Barcelona were awarded a penalty after a defensive lapse by Girona. Young sensation Lamine Yamal stepped up, but his effort struck the post and ricocheted away, leaving the visitors empty-handed going into half-time.
The second half saw Barcelona briefly take the lead in the 59th minute when Pau Cubarsí headed home a precise cross, igniting hopes of a comeback. However, their advantage lasted only two minutes, as Thomas Lemar equalised with a composed finish, restoring parity and shifting momentum back to Girona.
Girona pressed relentlessly thereafter, creating multiple opportunities, and their perseverance paid off in the 86th minute. Fran Beltrán struck a low, powerful shot that beat Barcelona’s goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into raptures. Despite protests from the Barcelona bench, the goal stood. In stoppage time, Girona’s Joel Roca received a red card, but the dismissal did little to alter the result.
The defeat leaves Barcelona in second place with 58 points after 24 matches, two points adrift of rivals Real Madrid, who top the table having played an equal number of games. Girona, meanwhile, rise to 12th with 29 points, a position reflective of their mid-season resurgence.
La Liga Standings Snapshot
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 24 | 60 | Leading, equal matches played |
| 2 | Barcelona | 24 | 58 | Lost to Girona 2-1 |
| 12 | Girona | 24 | 29 | Mid-table climb, upset win |
Barcelona now face mounting pressure in the title race, with their rivals having a slight advantage in the points tally. Girona’s unexpected triumph demonstrates their resilience and ability to disrupt the league’s traditional hierarchy, signalling that La Liga remains fiercely competitive even beyond the usual front-runners.