Girona stun Barcelona 2-1 as Lamine Yamal penalty flops and late Fran Beltrán strike seals upset
Girona produced a rousing Catalan derby victory over Barcelona at Estadio Montilivi on February 16, 2026 (4: 58 PM ET update), coming from behind to win 2-1 and derail the visitors' bid to retake the top of La Liga. Barcelona had taken the lead through a Jules Koundé-assisted header but paid the price for missed chances and defensive lapses as Fran Beltrán struck late to hand Girona a dramatic three points.
Match turning points: penalty miss, swift reply and a decisive late strike
Barcelona dominated possession and carved out gilt-edged openings, but failed to convert. Lamine Yamal wasted several clear opportunities and then smashed a first-half penalty off the base of the post, a miss that proved pivotal. Moments after Barcelona had opened the scoring through Pau Cubarsí's header from a Koundé cross, Girona immediately responded when Thomas Lemar tapped in from Vladyslav Vanat's delivery to level the contest.
The game swung again in the closing stages. With emotions high and bodies tiring, Girona found a winner as substitute Fran Beltrán turned home in the 86th minute, sparking delirium among the home crowd and easing the hosts' relegation concerns. A brief video assistant referee review followed the move but the goal stood. Late in stoppage time Girona were reduced to 10 men when Joel Roca brought down Yamal with a lunging challenge, but Barcelona could not force a dramatic late equaliser.
Defensive cracks and blunt attack — Barcelona's collective failure
The loss exposed issues across Barcelona's spine and out wide. On the back line, Koundé again showed willingness to overlap and contribute going forward, but his final balls often failed to find a teammate and the defence was repeatedly left exposed to Girona's runs in behind. Goalkeeper Joan García produced several strong stops early on, yet was also involved in moments of uncertainty that unsettled the back line and contributed to Girona momentum.
In midfield, Barcelona struggled for control and cohesion. Players who normally drive the side's tempo were either smothered or left isolated, allowing Girona to press and create transitions. One attacker in particular won the penalty that should have given Barcelona the lead but looked miscast in a midfield three, his qualities blunted by the tactical setup. Others in attack, including the seasonal hotshot who hit the woodwork twice, found openings but lacked the killer finish that can change the course of tight matches.
These collective shortcomings have consequences beyond a single result. The defeat ends a three-game winning run for Barcelona in the league and hands Real Madrid a two-point gap at the top, leaving the title race tighter and Barcelona with questions to answer about personnel and formation choices.
What this means going forward
For Girona, the win is a timely boost that lifts them clear of immediate danger and proves they can grind out results against elite opposition. Confidence at Montilivi will be high after a performance that combined resilience with opportunism.
Barcelona must regroup quickly. Missed chances, a failed penalty and defensive disorganization cannot be overlooked as the calendar begins to tighten. The manager faces tactical scrutiny over the midfield shape and the balance between protecting the back line and unlocking attacking talent. Individual players who normally dictate proceedings must rediscover form, and the squad will need to show more clinical finishing and defensive solidarity if they are to reclaim and hold the summit of La Liga.
Montilivi provided a reminder that even the most vaunted sides can be undone by a combination of profligacy and structural problems. Barcelona head home with ample time to reflect, but few will forget a night when opportunities were squandered and a late Beltrán strike handed Girona a derby to savour.
