Girona 2-1 Barcelona: Hansi Flick’s side lose second game in a row after second half turnaround by the hosts
Barcelona conceded the top spot in La Liga to Real Madrid on Monday after losing to 12th-placed Girona. Lamine Yamal missed a penalty just before the break, and Pau Cubarsi’s second-half header was cancelled out by Thomas Lemar just two minutes later, before Fran Beltran scored with four minutes to go in normal time to win it for the hosts.
Raphinha was back in the side after spending a week on the sidelines through injury and in the early stages here he sent a searching pass to Yamal, but the youngster’s strike went just around the post as Barcelona started brightly.
The Brazilian soon tried one himself and failed to squeeze into the near corner, after Yamal’s forensic long pass had released Fermin Lopez and the latter had squared to Raphinha. There were more missed opportunities for the visitors as Ferran Torres lashed a shot wide and Raphinha blazed over shortly after.
Girona grew into the game, Barcelona’s edginess boosting their confidence. After Yamal had harmlessly chipped at goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, Vladyslav Vanat tested Joan Garcia and Viktor Tsygankov went close with a freekick.
Raphinha’s effort pinged the post as half time drew closer but it was Yamal who would leave the pitch with disgust. After Daley Blind had clipped Dani Olmo the referee pointed to the spot but Yamal could only find the post from 12 yards.
Barcelona went ahead early in the second half after Jule Kounde’s cross was delightfully headed into the top corner by Cubarsi. But then the visiting defenders were statuesque as Vanat found time and space to thread the ball through for Lemar to finish inside the six-yard box.
Full time pic.twitter.com/1JqSwr35Xi
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 16, 2026
Somehow Girona failed to go ahead after Ivan Martin danced into the penalty area. His shot was saved by Garcia and it fell to Vanat, who was still unable to score from six yards, and then Joel Roca was adjudged to have fouled the goalkeeper before bundling in and the goal was ruled out.
A goal was clearly coming and although Garcia spread himself like a blanket to deny Roca a clear chance, he could do nothing moments later to stop Beltran from squeezing into the bottom left corner. Barcelona hoped for a reprieve from VAR on the basis that Kounde was fouled, but they got nothing. They were soon heartbroken again after Robert Lewandowski’s apparent equaliser was ruled out for offside.
Roca was sent off deep in stoppage time for an awful challenge on Yamal but by then Girona were getting ready to celebrate three vital points.
