The defeat also marks Barcelona’s second consecutive loss in all competitions after their 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona started the match aggressively, with teenage forward Lamine Yamal testing Girona goalkeeper Joan Garcia inside the opening minutes. Yamal then wasted a one-on-one chance in the 18th minute. Girona had their moments as well, with Vladyslav Vanat forcing a strong save from Garcia just before the half-hour.
Raphinha hit the crossbar late in the first half, and moments later, Yamal’s penalty, awarded after a foul on Dani Olmo, was missed. The miss adds to Barcelona’s tally of three penalties squandered this season, the joint-most in La Liga.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Pau Cubarsi rose highest to head home from Jules Kounde’s pinpoint cross, giving Barcelona a deserved lead. However, Girona responded almost immediately, with Vanat delivering a low cross that allowed Thomas Lemar to tap in for the equaliser.
The match-winning moment arrived in the 86th minute when Fran Beltran struck a powerful shot into the bottom corner, completing the turnaround despite some controversy over a potential foul on Kounde, which was reviewed and allowed by VAR.
Barcelona’s hopes of salvaging a point were further hindered when Robert Lewandowski was flagged offside on a late chance, and Girona ended the match with ten men after Joel Roca received a red card for a lunging challenge on Yamal.
The defeat leaves Barcelona in second place, two points behind Real Madrid, who had beaten Valencia 4-1 on Saturday. Girona, meanwhile, climbed to 12th in the standings, five points clear of the relegation zone, ending a three-match winless run.-ANI
Girona pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over Barcelona in a pulsating La Liga Catalan derby at Estadio Montilivi on Monday, leaving the defending champions trailing Real Madrid in the title race, according to La Liga.