AFCON 2025
Real Madrid have opened a two-point gap over Barcelona on the La Liga table after the Catalan giants fell to defeat at Girona on Monday night.
Girona came from a goal down to secure maximum points over the defending champions at the Estadio Montilivi to record their first win in four matches.
Barcelona came into the tie off the back of the 4-0 humiliating loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey last week.
Lamine Yamal came close to giving Barcelona the opener, but his poor effort from close range ended up in the gloves of Paulo Gazzaniga.
Girona’s Vladyslav Vanat almost gave the host the lead but couldn’t direct his attempt beyond Joan Garcia in Barcelona’s goal.
Raphinha’s effort came off the bar, having missed an earlier chance.
Lamine Yamal missed the chance to give Barcelona the lead when he missed a penalty in added time of the first half, with his shot hitting the post.
Paul Curbai eventually gave Barcelona the lead on the hour mark with a brilliant header from Jules Kounde’s cross into the box.
Unfortunately, the lead only lasted a minute as Thomas Lemar tapped the ball into an empty net from Vladyslav Vanat’s square pass.
Fran Beltran reacts quickly in the penalty area and scores with aplomb, giving the goalkeeper no chance and giving Girona the lead with four minutes to go.
Girona ended the game with 10 men after Joel Roca took out his opponent with a nasty slide tackle, but wouldn’t mind as they secured a famous win over the defending champions.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Valencia over the weekend has yielded positives, as they go top of the La Liga table with 60 points while Barcelona are in second-place with two points less.
