Fran Beltran netted an 86th-minute winner as Barcelona missed the chance to return to the LaLiga summit after slipping to a 2-1 defeat away to 10-man Girona on Monday.
The spoils appeared set to be shared after Thomas Lemar had cancelled out Pau Cubarsi's opener, but Beltran came off the bench to deal Hansi Flick's team a huge title blow.
An end-to-end opening saw both sides squander glorious chances, but it was Barcelona who were given the biggest opportunity to take the lead in first-half stoppage time.
Dani Olmo was felled by Daley Blind in the penalty area, with Lamine Yamal assuming responsibility of the spot-kick. However, he saw his strike cannon off the right post.
But the Blaugrana got themselves in front in the 59th minute when Jules Kounde's teasing delivery into the box was brilliantly headed past Paulo Gazzaniga by Cubarsi.
Barcelona's lead lasted for just two minutes, though as Girona hit back through Lemar, who tucked home from inside the six-yard box after good work from Vladyslav Vanat.
Joan Garcia then denied Ivan Martin's right-footed shot before springing back to his feet to deny Joel Roca soon after, who had been slipped in behind Alejandro Balde.
And Girona snatched all three points four minutes from time when Beltran picked out the bottom-left corner, with the goal given following a VAR review after Barcelona felt that Kounde had been fouled in the build-up by Claudio Echeverri.
Ronald Araujo almost equalised in the first minute of second-half stoppage time but could not find the target, with Girona forced to see out the closing stages with a man less after Roca's ridiculous challenge on Yamal saw him sent off, but they held on to leave Barcelona two points behind Real Madrid.
Data Debrief: Barcelona pay the penalty
Flick cut a frustrated figure at the full-time whistle as he watched his Barcelona team fail to turn their chances into goals, though they were more than matched by their opponents in an entertaining clash at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi.
Barcelona finished the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.93 from their 27 attempts, though only four of those were on target, compared to Girona's 2.76 from their 13 shots at Garcia's net.
And though Yamal became the first player to complete 100 dribbles (now 101) in Europe's top five leagues this season (202 attempted), he failed to deliver from 12 yards. Indeed, no other team has missed more penalties than Barcelona in LaLiga this season (3/7, level with Valencia 3/5).
peedikmno
0
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
RonaldDinho_10
2
Thats lie, said el-mala is far better than rashford plus barca need to invest intelligently by going after player for present and future, tell me if raphinha timing is over then who be his successor, rashford? Barca need a player who can press well, able to dribble fast opponents, good with one-on-one dribble, qualities that rashford lacks at the moments and never be able to accomplished, bcos its comes with nature, so rashford out any dangerious young gem versatile winger in
keeping Rashford doesnt stop us from getting another talented left winger, it doesnt have to be a star player, it can be a promising player, even from La Liga, cmon, only Rashford knows how to cross in our team, only he is fast, the mistake is from Flick not trying him as Striker just for once
yebilmnptz
1
for 30 mln, you wont find a player like Rashford, at least when he is present, we create chances, we play structured when he plays, not chaotic
Thats lie, said el-mala is far better than rashford plus barca need to invest intelligently by going after player for present and future, tell me if raphinha timing is over then who be his successor, rashford? Barca need a player who can press well, able to dribble fast opponents, good with one-on-one dribble, qualities that rashford lacks at the moments and never be able to accomplished, bcos its comes with nature, so rashford out any dangerious young gem versatile winger in
jeabmotuyz
1
Mbappe: Mr penalty Lamine: Miss Penalty😂
RonaldDinho_10
1
Flick is in fault for this poor season Highline Cubarsi Eric Kounde the slowest players to play this system, also how do you start the match with no tall player, cmon what is that, cubarsi cant even tackle Letting Yamal take the penalty, I would never let him after that missed chance, he should have been subbed off, this is Barca, not a training, tryimg to chip a professional gk like that Then why not start with Bernal, Olmo and Fermin cant play together, never ever And idk if Hansi Flick knows, but Cancelo can play as a CM also And maybe the most important thing, poor managment from the club, go buy some real players, not Cubarsi, Torres, Martin, if not for Rashford and Joan Garcia we would worse this season, maybe Rashford wasnt the best, but most of his goals and assists were important, not just for showing off like Yamal
RonaldDinho_10
1
F.Torres out R.lewandowski out A.balde out G.martin out Cubarsi out too Rashford should also rash out... too many slow clowns on the squad now
for 30 mln, you wont find a player like Rashford, at least when he is present, we create chances, we play structured when he plays, not chaotic
yebilmnptz
2
Average players can never ever win UCL. Plus if care is not taken those talented gems like pedri, yamal and fermin time will go in-vain, they can spend 4 to 6 or 7 years without UCL trophy. If barca are ready to compete internationally they should do what ever its takes to sign world class defenders plus clinical striker, even if it means breaking the bank. Talking of just signing a left footed center back thats fucking bullshit, one defenders cant solve their backward problems, they need a minimum of at least 2 fast, fast defenders with high speed for that high line to work effectively. In addition a pedri backup, i mean who has his talent at his feet like kees smit is needed, bcos whenever pedri injured barca midfield will be exposes against big club because all the remaining middielders are not good enough to make a final decision quickly, more importantly in a tight space
Vonbceklot
2
it's high time they begin to put referees and VAR on the sport... journalists should be allowed to interview them after matches to explain their controversial decisions this way they will be more careful.. THE STAMP ON KOUNDE'S ANKLE BY THE GIRONA PLAYERS MOMENTS BEFORE THEIR SECOND GOAL WOULD HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE RED CARD YET THEY AWARDED THE GOAL WITHOUT VAR INTERVENING... It looks a very deliberate act to make sure Barca lose ground...
Nadeemhasan24
3
Ghost against Atletico Madrid Missed a penalty today Ballon D’or 🔥
Footballislife0811
0
F.Torres out R.lewandowski out A.balde out G.martin out Cubarsi out too Rashford should also rash out... too many slow clowns on the squad now
Curbasi and barde bro u capping what’s balde fault today he hardly even play during normal time Others can go
yebilmnptz
2
Barca can never go far in UCL simply bcos of their poor defense, even if they do so just note that as a fan’s you’ll be disappointed in the end as no ever club has ever win UCL with poor defensive performance. Forget about fu…king refrees decision UCL are is never for average defenders like barca. 1 goal can win a UCL final but never for barca bcos as long as their opponents, being it quarter finalist, semi’s or final can put more pressure to barca, their goal is imminent, am barca fan but wether you like it or not thats reality, their style of play (high line) plus their poor defenders are meant to suffer the entire club. In addition high line tactics is not the only problem, defenders are not good at all
Godwinshaka
5
F.Torres out R.lewandowski out A.balde out G.martin out Cubarsi out too Rashford should also rash out... too many slow clowns on the squad now
JohnpaulSamuel999
1
if penalty is easy beggylonas should have score one 😂
Thank you 😊 it's all about scoring
Godwinshaka
0
Barcelona till I died , yea we the best
Ayoomotayo
0
Laliga is the most useless league in the world.
donreal1990
5
if penalty is easy beggylonas should have score one 😂
Tocilostyz
1
Ask Madrid 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Koheimprsy
1
hello