Barcelona missed a golden opportunity to reclaim the top spot in La Liga after a dramatic late defeat at the hands of Girona. Fran Beltrán’s decisive strike in the dying moments secured a 2-1 victory for the hosts, leaving the Catalan giants to depart the stadium with heavy hearts.
From the first whistle, both teams showcased attacking intent on Girona’s home turf. Barcelona looked threatening early on, with Rafinha and Lamine Yamal creating chances, but neither could find the back of the net.
The first half saw further drama when Barcelona was awarded a penalty in stoppage time. Young sensation Lamine Yamal stepped up, only for his spot-kick to rebound off the post, leaving the Blaugrana faithful in disbelief.
The second half began with Barcelona asserting their dominance. In the 59th minute, Pau Kuberski’s perfectly timed header put Barça ahead, offering hope of a comeback. However, Girona responded almost immediately; within two minutes, Thomas Lemar equalised, igniting a flurry of attacking play from the home side.
As the clock approached the 86th minute, Fran Beltrán produced a low-driven finish that nestled into the net, sending Girona’s supporters into rapturous celebration. Despite Barcelona’s protests, the goal stood. Tensions escalated in stoppage time when Girona’s Joel Roca received a red card, but by then the outcome was already sealed.
The defeat leaves Barcelona on 58 points from 24 matches, holding second place in the La Liga table. Real Madrid, their eternal rivals, remain top with two points more from an equal number of fixtures. Meanwhile, Girona climb to 12th place with 29 points, marking a significant morale-boosting win for the side.
La Liga Standings Snapshot
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 24 | 60 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 24 | 58 |
| 12 | Girona | 24 | 29 |
Barcelona will now have to regroup quickly as the season reaches its crucial stages. With key fixtures against title rivals approaching, the Catalan side cannot afford further slip-ups if they hope to reclaim the summit of Spanish football.