Defending champions Barcelona suffered a significant blow to their LaLiga title ambitions after a 2–1 derby defeat away to Girona on Monday night.
The loss leaves Barcelona two points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, who had moved top with a weekend victory over Real Sociedad. Needing a response to reclaim first place, Hansi Flick’s side instead produced a fragile display that exposed lingering issues at both ends of the pitch.
Barcelona were handed an early opportunity to seize control when teenage winger Lamine Yamal won a penalty, only to see his spot-kick strike the post. The miss proved costly in a match where margins were fine but momentum swings decisive.
Despite controlling spells of possession, Barca struggled to impose themselves defensively. They eventually took the lead shortly before the hour mark through defender Pau Cubarsi, who headed home from a Jules Kounde cross. Yet the advantage was short-lived.
Girona, who began the night in 12th place, responded with authority. Thomas Lemar equalised after drifting away from his marker to finish a low cross from Vladyslav Vanat, shifting belief firmly towards the hosts.
“We defended very badly,” Flick admitted afterwards. “Girona had a lot of chances and in the end they deserved it.”
Barcelona were increasingly reliant on goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who produced a series of outstanding saves to deny Vanat, Ivan Martin and Joel Roca as Girona pressed relentlessly.
The decisive moment arrived late on. With three minutes remaining, Fran Beltran swept home from the edge of the area to complete the comeback, sparking jubilant scenes at Montilivi Stadium.
Barcelona were incensed by the build-up, believing Koundé had been fouled by Claudio Echeverri before the goal. Flick acknowledged the incident but refused to lean on officiating as an excuse.
“Everyone saw what happened, but we didn’t play well,” he said. “If I complain, it sounds like an excuse. We have a lot to improve.”
Girona finished the match with 10 men after Roca was sent off deep into stoppage time for hauling down Yamal, but the dismissal came too late to alter the outcome.
The defeat compounded an already difficult period for Barcelona, who are still reeling from a heavy 4–0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final last week.
Cubarsí was candid in his assessment. “We have to be self-critical. We didn’t play a great game and we can’t concede goals like that,” he said.
Flick confirmed he has given his squad two days off in an attempt to reset mentally. “There’s a long way to go,” he added. “We’re second now, and we have to fight to be first.”
For Girona coach Michel Sanchez, the result carried extra weight. “Three points against Barcelona are more than three points,” he said. “Normally they beat almost everyone.”
As the title race tightens, Barcelona’s response in the coming weeks may define whether this defeat is a temporary setback—or the moment their defence truly began to unravel.
