Girona 2-1 Barcelona: Yamal penalty miss and late Beltrán strike hand hosts a sensational Catalan derby win
Girona produced a dramatic shock at Montilivi on Feb. 16, 2026, beating regional powerhouse Barcelona 2-1 as Lamine Yamal missed a first-half penalty and substitute Fran Beltrán struck in the 86th minute to snatch all three points. The result leaves Barcelona staggered in LaLiga's title race and gives Girona vital breathing space above the relegation zone. Last updated Feb. 16, 2026 at 4: 58 PM ET.
How the game unfolded: early pressure, missed chances and a decisive late twist
The match began with Girona forcing Barcelona onto the back foot, with the home side testing the visitors' goalkeeper inside the first minute. Barcelona looked visibly flat in spells and squandered several high-quality opportunities before the break. Lamine Yamal, who had two close-range chances, compounded the visitors' frustrations by smashing a first-half penalty against the base of the post in stoppage time, keeping the score level at the interval.
Barcelona finally took the lead just after the hour when centre-back Pau Cubarsí met a whipped cross from the right with a looping header into the top corner — his first league goal for the club. The lead was short-lived. Two minutes later Girona replied when Thomas Lemar tapped home from close range following a driven delivery, restoring parity and lifting the Montilivi crowd.
With both sides trading opportunities, the contest teetered on a knife-edge. The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when Fran Beltrán, on as a substitute, found the net to give Girona the lead. There was a brief video assistant referee check on the build-up over an incident involving a Barcelona defender, but the goal stood. Girona held on despite being reduced to 10 men deep into stoppage time after substitute Joel Roca received a straight red for a lunging challenge on Yamal.
Consequences for the title race and Girona's survival bid
The defeat halts Barcelona's momentum and leaves them trailing rivals at the top of the table by two points, increasing pressure on Hansi Flick's side as the season enters a crucial phase. The Catalan derby loss is Barcelona's second in succession in all competitions, following a heavy cup defeat in midweek, and it raises fresh questions about clinical finishing and defensive consistency at key moments.
For Girona, the win ends a three-match run without victory and lifts the club clear of immediate danger, moving them up the table and easing relegation concerns. The result also underscores Girona's capacity to trouble the league's biggest names on their day, with Montilivi once again proving a cauldron hostile to visitors.
Key talking points and what to watch next
Lamine Yamal's missed penalty will dominate analysis: after an energetic start and several promising openings, Barcelona's most dangerous young attacker was unable to convert from the spot and fluffed other close-range chances that might have altered the outcome. Defensive lapses at crucial moments — including the seconds that allowed Girona to reply immediately after Barca's goal — cost Barcelona momentum.
Girona's resilience and opportunism were rewarded late, and the tactical tweaks that brought Beltrán into the game paid off handsomely. Discipline will be a concern for the hosts after Roca's red card, but the three points are the priority as the team looks to consolidate its league position.
With the title race tightening and fixtures coming thick and fast, Barcelona must regroup quickly. Girona, buoyed by an emotional victory, will aim to build on the result as the season progresses.
