Girona 2-1 Barcelona: Lamine Yamal misses penalty as Girona stun Barca in Catalan derby
Lamine Yamal missed a penalty as Barcelona spurred the prospect to return to the highest of La Liga, falling to defeat in a fiery Catalan derby towards Girona.
Hansi Flick’s aspect now path arch rivals Real Madrid by two factors in the title race after substitute Fran Beltran struck in the 86th minute at Estadio Montilivi to grab all three factors and ease relegation fears for the house aspect.
The guests thought defender Jules Kounde had been fouled in the build-up to the winner, however after a short video assistant referee (VAR) test the objective was given.
The hosts had been lowered to 10 males halfway by stoppage time, with substitute Joel Roca bringing down Lamine Yamal with a lunging problem.
Yet Barcelona had been unable to pressure an equalizer as they succumbed to only a third league defeat towards their regional rivals.
The outcome marks a second loss in succession for Barcelona, who suffered a 4-0 hammering by Atletico Madrid in the primary leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday.
It was a fiercely fought contest from the off as the hosts took the sport to the league leaders, forcing keeper Joan Garcia right into a save inside the primary minute.
By distinction Barcelona had been torpid, spurning a number of gilt-edged possibilities to take the lead. Lamine Yamal was the primary offender, twice lacking from shut vary earlier than crashing a penalty off the bottom of the upright in first-half stoppage time.
In the top two defenders mixed to interrupt the impasse in 59 minutes. Centre-back Pau Cubarsi looped a header into the highest nook from right-back Kounde’s cross for his first league objective in Barcelona colors.
The guests’ pleasure was short-lived although, as Girona hit again two minutes later when midfielder Thomas Lemar tapped dwelling Vladyslav Vanat’s middle for his second objective in as many video games.
The hosts scored once more 10 minutes later as Garcia failed to assert Viktor Tsygankov’s speculative header, though the goalkeeper was awarded a foul for a shove from Roca on the goalline.
The victory ends a three-game winless run for Girona, who strikes as much as twelfth, 5 factors away from the relegation zone.
Barcelona’s league successful run ends at three video games, and so they face a doable five-point hole on the summit come their subsequent fixture – Real Madrid head to Osasuna on Saturday (17:30 GMT), earlier than Barca host Levante on Sunday (15:15).
