Girona produced a dramatic 2-1 victory over Barcelona on Saturday, courtesy of an 86th-minute strike from substitute Fran Beltrán. The result not only lifted the hosts further away from the relegation zone but also knocked Barcelona off the top of the La Liga standings.
In a fiercely contested Catalan derby at Estadi Montilivi, Barcelona dominated large spells of the game, firing 26 shots. However, a combination of poor finishing and a first-half penalty miss proved costly for the visitors.
The decisive moment arrived four minutes from time when Beltrán found space on the edge of the area and rifled the ball home, sparking wild celebrations. A brief VAR check for a potential foul in the build-up was resolved, and the goal stood.
The defeat marks Barcelona’s first in the league after scoring the opening goal since December 21, 2024. The team has now lost two consecutive matches in all competitions following a heavy cup defeat earlier in the week.
How the Match Unfolded
Barcelona started brightly and thought they had a golden chance to take the lead deep into first-half stoppage time. After being awarded a penalty, teenage winger Lamine Yamal stepped up but smashed his spot-kick against the post, keeping the game scoreless at the break.
The missed opportunity loomed large when Girona broke the deadlock in the 59th minute. Defender Pau Cubarsí rose highest to meet a cross from Jules Koundé, looping a header into the top corner for his first league goal for the club.
Barcelona’s response was immediate. Just two minutes later, Thomas Lemar finished calmly from a Vladyslav Vanat delivery to level the score and seemingly shift the momentum back to the visitors.
As the game stretched in the final stages, it was Girona who found the decisive blow. Beltrán’s powerful effort from distance flew past the Barcelona goalkeeper to secure a memorable win.
Tensions flared in stoppage time when Girona substitute Joel Roca was shown a straight red card for a dangerous lunge on Yamal. Despite being down to ten men, the hosts held firm to deny Barcelona any late chance.
What the Result Means
The victory ends a three-match winless streak for Girona and moves them up to 12th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone. For Barcelona, it is a damaging setback in the title race.
With Real Madrid securing their eighth straight league win earlier in the day, they leapfrog Barcelona to take top spot. Madrid have now taken 24 out of a possible 24 points in their last eight matches.
Barcelona now sits two points behind the new league leaders. The team will look to bounce back quickly when they return to league action on Sunday.
All-time La Liga leading statistics show the historic dominance of the top clubs:
Real Madrid: 1,148 matchdays as leaders
Barcelona: 847 matchdays as leaders
Atlético Madrid: 289
Athletic Club: 165
Valencia: 155