Barcelona loss to Girona sees Catalans fall 2-1 as Real Madrid top La Liga after Girona’s remarkable comeback

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi and teenage forward Lamine Yamal were unable to prevent Spanish champions Barcelona from suffering a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona on Monday, leaving Hansi Flick’s side two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

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The match took place at Montilivi Stadium in Girona.

Cubarsi gave Barcelona the lead just before the hour mark with a precise header from Jules Kounde’s cross. However, Girona responded swiftly, with Thomas Lemar equalising after slipping past Eric Garcia, and Fran Beltran sealing the comeback with a composed strike from the edge of the area in the 87th minute.

Teenage sensation Yamal had earlier missed a crucial penalty after Dani Olmo was fouled in the box, hitting the post and denying Barcelona the chance to extend their lead.

“We have to improve because they can’t score these two goals against us,” Cubarsi told DAZN. “We have to be self-critical, we didn’t play a great game, we have to improve, but now we have to rest and charge our batteries.”

The first half was marked by attacking intensity from both sides but ended goalless, with Raphinha and Yamal missing key opportunities for Barcelona and Girona’s Vladyslav Vanat squandering several chances.

In the second half, Barca finally broke the deadlock through Cubarsi, only for Girona to dominate the final half-hour.

Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia produced a string of spectacular saves, including a double stop from Vanat and Ivan Martin, but it was not enough to prevent the upset.

The defeat comes shortly after Barcelona filed an official complaint to the Spanish football federation over perceived refereeing inconsistencies.

Controversy continued as Jules Kounde appeared fouled by Claudio Echeverri in the build-up to Beltran’s winner, but no action was taken. Girona ended the game with ten men when Joel Roca fouled Yamal in stoppage time, halting a late Barcelona surge.

Defender Gerard Martin reflected on the loss: “It seemed like a foul to me, but we shouldn’t focus on decisions we can’t control.”

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The result leaves Real Madrid perched atop La Liga after their win against Real Sociedad on Saturday, adding pressure on Flick’s side to recover in the coming fixtures.