Girona 2-1 Barcelona: Yamal penalty miss hands Catalan derby shock
Girona stunned Barcelona at Montilivi on 16 February 2026 as a missed Lamine Yamal penalty and a late Fran Beltrán winner condemned the league leaders to a 2-1 defeat. The loss leaves Barcelona two points adrift at the top and ends a fragile run of form for Hansi Flick's side.
Match summary
The Catalan derby was fiercely contested from the first whistle. Girona, buoyed by home support, started aggressively and forced Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia into an early save inside the opening minute. Barcelona, by contrast, looked sluggish and squandered several promising openings.
Lamine Yamal was at the centre of Barcelona's profligacy, missing two close-range chances before stepping up for a spot kick in first-half stoppage time. His penalty cannoned back off the base of the post, leaving both teams level at the interval.
Barcelona finally broke the deadlock early in the second half when Pau Cubarsí met a right-wing cross with a looping header into the top corner in the 59th minute — his first league goal in the colours of the club. The lead lasted barely three minutes. Thomas Lemar reacted quickest to Vladyslav Vanat's delivery and prodded home to level the game just after the hour mark.
The decisive moment came in the 86th minute when substitute Fran Beltrán fired a low shot from inside the box that found the net. Barcelona believed there had been a foul in the build-up on Jules Koundé, and the referee paused for a brief VAR check, but the goal stood. Tension boiled over in stoppage time when Girona substitute Joel Roca was sent off for a lunging challenge on Yamal, reducing the hosts to ten men. Barcelona pushed for a late equaliser but could not break down a resilient Girona backline.
Consequences and context
The result ends Girona's three-game run without a win, lifting them to 12th in the table and easing immediate relegation concerns. For Barcelona, the defeat compounds a difficult week that already included a heavy cup loss and marks their second loss in succession across competitions.
Crucially for the title race, Barcelona now sit two points behind the leaders. Calendar constraints mean the standings could shift rapidly: the league leaders travel to Osasuna on Saturday at 12: 30 PM ET, while Barcelona return to league action hosting Levante on Sunday at 10: 15 AM ET. The margin at the top is slim and momentum has swung unexpectedly after this derby upset.
Reactions and what went wrong for Barcelona
Manager Hansi Flick refused to indulge in excuses about officiating despite the disputed build-up to the winner, and he acknowledged his side's poor display. He highlighted defensive frailties in transition and a lack of midfield control as key issues, adding that tiredness may be a factor but that the team must regain its hunger and focus.
From Girona's perspective, the victory was a valuable collective response. They matched Barcelona's intensity, took their chances when presented and defended stoutly in the closing stages. The late red card did not alter the result, and the three points provide breathing room in a tightly packed midtable.
For Barcelona, the immediate priorities are recovery and regrouping. With no midweek fixtures for the next fortnight, Flick has signalled a brief rest for his squad before training resumes to address the mistakes that cost them at Montilivi.
