Barca suffer title defence blow in Girona derby defeat

2026-02-17 - 10:56

Spanish champions Barcelona fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona on Monday to leave them trailing Real Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga. Los Blancos beat Real Sociedad on Saturday to overtake the Catalans and Hansi Flick’s side could not defeat Girona in an gripping derby clash to reclaim the lead. Teenage star Lamine Yamal missed a penalty for Barcelona, who took the lead through defender Pau Cubarsi just before the hour mark. However goals from Thomas Lemar and Fran Beltran helped Girona, 12th, mount an impressive comeback. “In the end Girona deserved it, they had a lot of chances, we defended very badly,” admitted Flick. “We are not in a good mood, not in a good moment, I gave the team two days off because I think it’s important they reset. “There’s a long way (to go), we’re now in second, now we have to fight for first place in the table.” Barca were still licking their wounds after a heavy 4-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey first-leg semi-final last week, and this defeat made things even worse. “We have to improve because they can’t score these two goals against us,” Cubarsi told DAZN. “We have to be self-critical, we didn’t play a great game, we have to improve, but now we have to rest and charge our batteries.” Both sides were attacking with abandon in a very open first half and it was remarkable they went in goalless at the break. Raphinha whipped a shot narrowly wide and Yamal fired straight at Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga when through on goal. At the other end Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat missed a slew of presentable opportunities. Ferran Torres fired a good chance wide for Barca and Raphinha drove against the upright as Flick’s side pushed for the opener. They should have got it when Dani Olmo was clumsily felled in the box by Daley Blind, but Yamal hit