Girona 2-1 Barcelona: Yamal misses penalty as late Beltrán strike stuns Barca
Girona delivered one of the biggest shocks of the LaLiga weekend on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, as Fran Beltrán's late strike sealed a 2-1 win over Barcelona at Estadio Montilivi. Lamine Yamal's second-half penalty was smashed off the base of the post and a contentious VAR-checked winner left the visitors frustrated. Last updated Feb. 16, 2026 at 4: 58 p. m. ET.
Match summary: chances, a penalty and rapid responses
The Catalan derby began at a high tempo, with the hosts immediately testing Barcelona and forcing saves inside the opening minute. Barcelona, by contrast, looked sluggish in attack early on despite several gilt-edged openings. Lamine Yamal spurned two close-range opportunities and, with stoppage time approaching in the first half, crashed a spot-kick against the upright after Dani Olmo was fouled inside the area.
Barcelona finally broke the deadlock early in the second half when defender Pau Cubarsí met a Jules Koundé cross with a looping header that nestled in the top corner — the centre-back's first league goal for the club. Girona, however, hit back almost immediately: Thomas Lemar tapped in from close range after Vladyslav Vanat's delivery, restoring parity inside 60 seconds of Cubarsí's strike.
The game remained open and end-to-end, and Girona took the lead late when Fran Beltrán finished from close range in the 86th minute. A brief VAR review followed, but the goal was allowed to stand. Barcelona pushed for a late equaliser but were denied, and substitute Joel Roca was sent off in stoppage time for a lunging challenge on Yamal as Girona finished with ten men.
Controversy and reactions: VAR, fouls and fatigue
The decisive moment provoked heated debate on the touchline. Barcelona felt there had been a foul in the build-up to Beltrán's finish, with staff and players vocally protesting during and after the VAR check. Manager Hansi Flick declined to lean on officiating as an excuse for the defeat, saying the team were underwhelming in transition and needed to improve their control and defensive positioning. He added that fatigue might have played a role and planned a short break for the squad to recover.
The result compounds a difficult spell for Barcelona, who had been beaten heavily in midweek in cup competition and were unable to respond at Montilivi. For Girona, the win ends a three-game winless run and offers breathing space in the table, lifting them clear of immediate relegation danger.
What it means for the title race and what’s next
The defeat leaves Barcelona trailing Real Madrid by two points at the top of LaLiga and halts a brief run of league wins. The timing is significant: the fixture list gives Barcelona a chance to regroup with no midweek matches immediately ahead, but the pressure to bounce back will be intense as domestic rivals press for the summit.
Girona, buoyed by the result, climb the table and gain a crucial confidence boost. For a side fighting to escape the relegation conversation, a victory over the league leaders at Montilivi is a clear statement. Barcelona must now reset quickly ahead of their next league match, with expectations high that the squad will respond when they return to their stadium later this week.
