Barcelona Stars Crumble Against Girona as Title Dreams Take Devastating Hit

Urgently requiring a victory following a crushing defeat and to regain their La Liga summit position, Barcelona couldn't deliver when it mattered most on Monday evening, succumbing 2–1 to Girona.

Multiple obvious, squandered opportunities in the opening period proved extremely damaging, as Pau Cubarsí's second-half strike was swiftly canceled out by Thomas Lemar's leveler.

Both sides pressed forward in the closing stages, but Barcelona couldn't manufacture a decisive moment. Rather, it was Girona who struck in the final 10 minutes when Fran Beltrán slotted home to seal the turnaround for the home side.

After the devastating setback against Atlético Madrid in their previous outing, the Catalans couldn't mount an appropriate response. In a disastrous five-day period, Barcelona have virtually witnessed their Copa del Rey title defense crumble and now trail rivals Real Madrid by two points in the La Liga championship chase.

The New Problem That Won't Go Away

The New Problem That Won't Go Away

While Barcelona's defensive struggles have been apparent throughout the campaign, they've lately concealed another issue that becomes more obvious with each match: Flick's team squander a concerning amount of opportunities.

Across their previous five matches, Barcelona have netted nine goals from an astounding 112 attempts. Flick's squad remains excellent at generating opportunities and taking shots, but frequently lacks the precision required to hit the target.

Versus Girona, Barcelona could have comfortably secured all three points before the break, but they continuously wasted opportunities in the opening half and, rather than sealing the victory, they now make the brief journey home nursing their wounds after another deflating loss.

Barcelona falling short of their xG has become standard practice rather than an anomaly. In their sole previous league loss in 2026 against Real Sociedad, Barcelona missed seven golden opportunities.

Considering their defensive vulnerabilities, Barcelona's only chance to claim victories is by outscoring their opponents. Their gifted attack will probably keep generating opportunities effortlessly, but it's crucial the Catalans' forwards rediscover their clinical touch to repair the suddenly struggling front line ... or any silverware aspirations will become meaningless.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs. Girona (4-3-3)

Barcelona Player Ratings vs. Girona (4-3-3)

*Ratings Provided by Fotmob*

GK: Joan García—8.4: A vital confidence-restoring display from García, who had appeared dreadful recently. Excelled as a sweeper and made several spectacular close-range stops, though he couldn't prevent Girona's two goals.

RB: Jules Koundé—7.6: Apart from a few instances where he lost his marker on the flank, it was a dependable evening for the Frenchman, who provided the assist for Cubarsí's strike.

CB: Pau Cubarsí—7.9: Much better from the youngster, who attacked loose balls and created several turnovers through well-timed interceptions and precise tackles. Excellent finish for his maiden goal of the season.

CB: Eric García—6.6: Had difficulty implementing the high line and received a booking for a reckless challenge. He subsequently failed to properly track Lemar for Girona's equalizing goal.

LB: Gerard Martín—6.7: While he doesn't provide significant attacking threat, Martín effectively neutralized Viktor Tsygankov and made an outstanding last-second interception on a cross that could have easily led to Girona's opening goal.

CM: Fermín López—6.7: Invisible throughout the match. Fermín couldn't impact the game, finding it difficult to participate in Barcelona's offensive plays.

CM: Frenkie de Jong—7.0: Similar to the Atlético Madrid match, the Dutchman struggled defending rapid transitions, abandoning midfield coverage several times. With possession, however, he was typically excellent.

AM: Dani Olmo—7.5: Another elegant display from Olmo, who orchestrated attacks from deep while also making dangerous runs into the box regularly, earning a penalty that Yamal failed to convert.

RW: Lamine Yamal—7.7: Appeared overconfident and reckless on several occasions, missing chances—including a penalty—and misplacing basic passes. A display that will surely frustrate his coach.

ST: Ferran Torres—6.2: Constantly made runs into the penalty area but rarely received service. When he did get opportunities to make an impact, he lacked composure in his finishing.

LW: Raphinha—7.2: Returning from injury, Raphinha demonstrated precisely what Barcelona desperately missed during his absence. His off-ball movement was exceptional and he topped the team with four chances created. Will be disappointed after hitting the post.

SUB: Alejandro Balde (63' for Martín)—6.0: A quiet appearance from the left-back.

SUB: Roony Bardghji (63' for Raphinha)—6.2: Had several opportunities to give Barça the lead but couldn't deliver in crucial moments.

SUB: Ronald Araújo (73' for García)—6.0: Started as a center-back but finished as a striker, though he couldn't replicate his heroics from the reverse fixture.

SUB: Robert Lewandowski (73' for Torres)—6.2: Looked inconsistent after entering and was offside during what appeared to be Barça's equalizer that was correctly ruled out.

SUB: Marc Bernal (80' for Olmo)—6.4: Won numerous balls in Girona's half after coming on, but Barça couldn't capitalize on these recoveries.

Subs not used: Diego Kochen (GK), Wojciech Szczęsny (GK), João Cancelo, Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó, Tommy Marques,

What the Ratings Tell Us

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Barcelona's Deserved Defeat

The Numbers That Explain Barcelona's Deserved Defeat