Girona 2-1 Barcelona: Yamal penalty miss hands Catalan derby to Girona
Girona delivered a dramatic upset at Estadio Montilivi, beating Barcelona 2-1 after Lamine Yamal blasted a first-half penalty against the post. The defeat leaves Barcelona trailing Real Madrid by two points in a bruising La Liga title race while Girona move clear of immediate relegation danger.
Late winner and VAR drama seal Girona victory
The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when substitute Fran Beltran fired a low shot from just inside the box to give the hosts the lead. There was an anxious pause as officials checked the build-up with VAR over a potential foul on Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, but the goal stood and sent the Montilivi crowd into raptures.
Tension lingered until the final whistle. Girona were reduced to 10 men in the dying seconds when substitute Joel Roca received a red card for a lunging challenge on Lamine Yamal deep into stoppage time, but Barcelona could not force an equaliser.
Two quick goals and Yamal's costly misses
The match swung wildly in the second half. Barcelona took the lead on 59 minutes when centre-back Pau Cubarsi met a right-wing cross from Jules Kounde and looped a header into the top corner — his first league goal in Barca colours. The moment briefly suggested Barcelona might stamp their authority on the fixture.
Girona responded instantly. Just three minutes later, Thomas Lemar turned in a Vladyslav Vanat delivery at the near post to level, continuing his recent scoring run. The equaliser restored belief for the hosts and opened the door for the late drama.
Barcelona had squandered several early openings and were punished for their profligacy. Young winger Lamine Yamal missed two close-range chances before smashing a penalty off the base of the upright in first-half stoppage time — a miss that ultimately proved decisive. The Catalan prodigy’s failure from the spot was a recurring theme in a lethargic first-half display from the visitors.
Consequences for both sides
The result ends Girona’s three-game winless run and lifts them to 12th in the table, easing fears of a relegation scrap. For Barcelona, it is a second defeat in quick succession following a heavy cup reverse earlier in the week, and a reminder that margins are thin at the top of La Liga.
Barcelona remain second and sit two points behind Real Madrid. With vital fixtures on the horizon, the calendar will not offer much respite: Real Madrid travel to Osasuna on Saturday at 12: 30 PM ET, while Barcelona host Levante on Sunday at 10: 15 AM ET.
Managerially and mentally, the loss raises questions about Barcelona’s cutting edge and composure in tight encounters. Girona, by contrast, will take encouragement from their ability to match and ultimately outwork one of the division’s heavyweights on a night when their fans demanded belief.
Moments of individual brilliance were scarce and mistakes costly — a fitting summary of a derby that swung on one penalty miss and a late, low strike that will be replayed in Montilivi long after the final whistle.
