Champions Barcelona Lose 4-2 To High-Flying Girona

Reigning Spanish champions Barcelona welcomed native rivals Girona to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for his or her La Liga Matchday 16 conflict on Sunday evening (December 10). Having crushed Atletico Madrid on the earlier Matchday, Xavi’s facet fancied themselves to get one other optimistic consequence towards the then-second-placed staff within the La Liga standings. Nevertheless, Michel’s Girona handed them a impolite wake-up name of their yard.

Ilkay Gundogan’s Late Strike Not Sufficient To Save Barcelona

It took Girona solely six minutes to check Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena. Attacking midfielder Viktor Tsigankov received on the tip of a blistering counter-attack on the sting of the field. He, nevertheless, couldn’t strike the ball in addition to anticipated, resulting in a easy sufficient cease for the Barca keeper. Six minutes later, Girona orchestrated one other assault, and this time, they received the purpose they have been in search of.

Tsigankov attacked the area the Blaugrana left behind earlier than establishing Artem Dovbyk with a wonderfully weighted move. Dovbyk’s first-time effort banged towards the within of the submit earlier than going inside. To their credit score, Barcelona responded effectively to going behind, with Robert Lewandowski equalizing from an distinctive corner-kick supply from Raphinha.

As an alternative of pushing for the go-ahead purpose, the La Liga holders seemingly took their foot off the pedal, which allowed Girona to return again with a bang. Within the fortieth minute, Ivan Martin performed the ball out vast to full-back Miguel Gutierrez. The Spaniard beat Jules Kounde with a drop of his shoulder earlier than reducing inside the world and curling the ball previous the keeper and into the again of the web.

Girona imply enterprise 💪 pic.twitter.com/JbZDIF7Twj

— B/R Soccer (@brfootball) December 10, 2023

Within the eightieth minute, Valery Fernandez doubled Girona’s lead. Solely two minutes after approaching, the attacker received on the tip of Cristhian Stuani’s headed move and steered it past Pena. Within the second minute of harm time, Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan gave his staff a lifeline. Receiving the ball from Ferran Torres, the German outsmarted Eric Garcia earlier than thumping the ball previous Paulo Gazzaniga.

Barca had 4 minutes to get one thing out of the sport however didn’t hold the strain on. A few minutes after Lewandowski misplaced his header, an unmarked Stuani scored the insurance coverage purpose for Girona, taking the ball past Pena with a cushioned header.

Girona Are A Critical La Liga Contender This Season

On paper, Actual Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid are simply the three strongest groups in La Liga. As a rule, these three vie for the league title, however this yr, there’s a new challenger on the town. Whereas we have now not but entered the enterprise finish of the season, indicators have been very promising for Michel’s staff. They’ve been essentially the most flamboyant staff within the division, scoring a league-best 38 targets, and have an honest defensive report as effectively (20 targets conceded). They’ve confirmed they will scrape out outcomes and proven easy methods to take the combat to the massive boys, which is the proper recipe for achievement.

After 16 video games, Girona sit on the summit of La Liga with 41 factors, a few factors away from essentially the most profitable staff in Spain, Actual Madrid. If they will hold securing such large outcomes and avoid large accidents, it is not going to be shocking to see Girona flip up the top on Madrid and Co. within the last weeks of the 2023-24 La Liga season.