Three takeaways from Girona 2-1 Barcelona

Estadi Montilivi, once a modest outpost on Barcelona’s fixture list, became the scene of a sobering reality check as Girona overturned a 1-0 deficit to defeat the Blaugrana 2-1 and deepen the Catalans’ mid-winter crisis. The loss, their second in succession, leaves the reigning Spanish champions trailing Real Madrid in the title race and raises urgent questions about fatigue, tactics and officiating just as the season enters its decisive stretch.

1. A familiar script flipped against them For twelve months Barcelona have marketed themselves as the comeback kings of La Liga, but on Saturday they were forced to taste their own medicine. After taking an early lead, they conceded twice in the second half, the winner arriving late and in contentious fashion. The turnaround was all the more painful because it echoed recent self-inflicted wounds: for the fourth time in six league outings, Barcelona surrendered a lead within minutes of scoring. Girona’s second-half expected goals tally of 1.79—more than double that of the visitors—underscored how easily the hosts sliced through a back line that has looked increasingly ragged since the turn of the year.

2. Refereeing controversy refuses to go away Hansi Flick’s ire at officials after the mid-week Copa del Rey debacle against Atlético Madrid was still fresh, and two flashpoints at Montilivi ensured the theme lingered. First, Girona defenders encroached well inside the area before Lamine Yamal’s penalty was struck; the miss stood and no retake was ordered. Later, Jules Koundé appeared to have his foot stamped on during the build-up to Girona’s 79th-minute winner, yet neither on-field referee nor VAR intervened. Barcelona have now grown accustomed to lengthy video reviews cancelling their own goals while pivotal decisions at the other end escape scrutiny, a pattern that is fraying nerves inside the squad.

3. Physical and mental fatigue now impossible to ignore Barcelona entered the match needing a statement of intent after the 4-0 humiliation at the Metropolitano; what they produced was a performance heavy-legged and light on ideas. Yamal spurned a one-on-one and the spot-kick before half-time, but after the interval the team collectively wilted. The once-relentless press was disjointed, midfield spacing evaporated, and tracking back resembled an optional exercise. Having last lost consecutive fixtures in early October, the Catalans now replicate that streak at the worst possible moment: a five-goal mountain to climb in the Copa return leg, Champions League knockouts looming, and Real Madrid handed fresh momentum in the league.

With every pillar of their game—defensive compactness, midfield control, clinical finishing—simultaneously regressing, Barcelona must regroup quickly or risk watching a once-promising campaign unravel across multiple fronts.