Girona vs Barcelona: Beltrán stuns Barca as Yamal misses penalty in 2-1 Catalan derby
Girona shocked league leaders Barcelona at Estadio Montilivi on 16 February 2026, overcoming an early Barca lead to claim a 2-1 victory. A missed penalty by Lamine Yamal and a late Fran Beltrán winner defined a fiery Catalan derby that shifts momentum in the title race and eases immediate danger for the hosts. Last updated 16 February 2026, 4: 58 PM ET.
Late Beltrán strike seals Girona victory
The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when Fran Beltrán fired home to give the hosts a dramatic comeback win. The goal followed a brief video review into the build-up but was ultimately allowed to stand, sparking wild celebration in the home end. Barcelona thought they had a case for a foul on defender Jules Koundé earlier in the move, but the check did not overturn the on-field decision.
Girona had earlier been pegged back by Barcelona when Pau Cubarsí headed the visitors into the lead on 59 minutes, looping a near-post delivery into the top corner for his first league goal wearing Barca colours. That advantage lasted only a couple of minutes: Thomas Lemar reacted quickest to a cross from Vladyslav Vanat to level the game and stun the visitors.
Yamal miss and wasted chances haunt Barca
Barcelona dominated large spells and created several clear opportunities, but wastefulness in the final third proved costly. Teenager Lamine Yamal, who had two other close-range openings, smashed a first-half penalty off the base of the post in stoppage time, a miss that proved pivotal.
Further frustration for Barcelona came when an attempted Girona equaliser involving Viktor Tsygankov led to controversy around a shove on the goalline; the referee awarded a foul rather than a goal. Late in stoppage time Girona were reduced to 10 men after substitute Joel Roca received a red card for a lunging challenge on Yamal, but Barcelona could not force a late leveller.
Implications for the title race and both squads
The defeat ends a brief Barca winning run and hands a momentary advantage to Real Madrid in the La Liga title chase, with Barcelona now trailing by two points. The loss compounds a difficult week for the visitors, who had suffered a heavy cup defeat days earlier and now return home needing answers defensively and in front of goal.
For Girona the three points are a major boost. The victory ends a three-match winless run and lifts the hosts into midtable safety, moving them five points clear of the relegation zone. Confidence will be higher for a squad that matched the league leaders physically and tactically at Montilivi.
Managerial questions will linger at Barcelona about finishing and game management after creating numerous chances but converting too few. Girona's resilience and capacity to punish lapses proved decisive, and the result underlines how fine margins — a missed spot-kick and a late strike — can swing momentum in a tight title race.
Next steps for Barcelona include regrouping quickly as the league battle intensifies, while Girona will seek to build on a high-impact win that could provide the platform needed to secure top-flight survival.
