Girona vs Barcelona: Fran Beltran stuns Barca as Lamine Yamal misses penalty in 2-1 shock
Girona produced a seismic result at Estadio Montilivi, coming from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 on February 16, 2026. Barcelona squandered a host of chances — including a first-half penalty blasted off the post by Lamine Yamal — and were punished late when Fran Beltran struck in the 86th minute to hand the hosts all three points. Updated February 16, 2026, 4: 58 PM ET.
Barca waste chances and Yamal fluffs a spot kick
The match began with Girona setting a combative tone and forcing early saves, while Barcelona looked unusually flat in the opening stages. The visitors fashioned several gilt-edged opportunities but failed to convert them; teenager Lamine Yamal was prominent in the final third yet was uncharacteristically profligate, missing from close range on two occasions. His afternoon went from bad to worse when he sent a first-half stoppage-time penalty crashing against the base of the upright, a miss that proved pivotal.
After the interval Barcelona briefly seized control. A well-worked move culminated in a 59th-minute header from centre-back Pau Cubarsi, who looped a finish into the top corner from Jules Kounde's cross to open the scoring and register his first league goal in Barcelona colours. The visitors looked poised to build on that lead, but they failed to consolidate control or kill the game off.
Late drama, VAR check and Beltran winner
Girona responded almost immediately. Two minutes after Barcelona's opener, Thomas Lemar tapped in from close range following an incisive run and cross to restore parity. The derby then settled into a tense, end-to-end period with both sides pushing for a decisive moment.
That moment arrived deep into the second half. Substitute Fran Beltran, introduced to inject energy into Girona's midfield, produced a composed strike in the 86th minute to put the home side ahead. Barcelona initially protested a perceived foul in the build-up involving Jules Kounde, prompting a brief VAR review, but the goal stood and Montilivi erupted. The hosts were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Joel Roca received a red card for a lunging challenge on Yamal, but Barcelona could not find a late equaliser.
Consequences for the title race and Girona's survival hopes
The defeat halts Barcelona's momentum. It is their second loss in succession in all competitions this week, following a heavy cup reverse, and it leaves them trailing the league leaders by two points heading into the weekend fixtures. The margin at the top now threatens to widen depending on other results, increasing pressure on Hansi Flick's side as the season reaches its business end.
For Girona the victory is a major boost. The three points snap a winless run, lift the club out of immediate danger and move them to 12th in the table, five points clear of the drop zone. The morale swing from this derby success could prove decisive in their fight for safety as the campaign progresses.
Wednesday's Catalan showdown was high on emotion and controversy, a reminder that derbies frequently defy formbooks. Barcelona left Montilivi wondering how they could have lost a game in which they enjoyed the better chances, while Girona celebrated a result that may well define their season.
