Barcelona suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to local rivals Girona in a dramatic Catalan derby at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, leaving them two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid. The loss not only hampered Barcelona’s title ambitions but also highlighted their ongoing struggles from the penalty spot.
The match began with high expectations for Barcelona, eager to bounce back after Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Real Sociedad. However, their hopes were dented in first-half stoppage time when Lamine Yamal missed a penalty, striking the left post and keeping the scoreline goalless at the break.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 59th minute by Girona’s Pau Cubarsi, only for Thomas Lemar to respond two minutes later and level the game. The match intensified as both sides traded opportunities, but it was Fran Beltrán who ultimately secured victory for Girona in the 86th minute, despite controversy over a possible foul on Jules Kounde during the buildup.
Barcelona’s misery deepened in the closing moments when Girona’s Joel Roca was sent off for a reckless challenge on Yamal. Even with the numerical advantage, the Blaugrana failed to capitalize, squandering several chances.
This defeat underscores Barcelona’s penalty struggles, as the team now shares the joint-worst record in La Liga this season, having missed three of seven penalties. Robert Lewandowski has contributed to the tally, missing earlier spot-kicks against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid.
Despite firing 27 shots, Barcelona managed only four on target, marking the first time since 2015 that they failed to win a league match while taking at least 27 shots.
Looking ahead, Barcelona must address both their finishing and penalty conversion issues quickly. With a key La Liga clash against Levante looming, Coach Hansi Flick will be focused on ensuring the team makes the most of every opportunity and restores their offensive sharpness. The Blaugrana’s ability to convert chances will be crucial if they are to remain genuine contenders for the title.
Great one!