Barcelona clinched a dramatic 2–1 victory over Girona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, with Ronald Araujo delivering a last-minute winner in a tense La Liga showdown.
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Lamine Yamal made an instant impact on his return, setting up Pedri for the opener early in the first half his fourth assist of the season.
Girona hit back soon after, with Axel Witsel levelling the game in the 20th minute through a superb acrobatic strike.
Marcus Rashford endured a frustrating evening, striking the crossbar from a free-kick and missing several clear opportunities to restore Barcelona’s lead.
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Substitute Fermin Lopez came close after the break, rattling the woodwork, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny pulled off key saves to keep Barcelona alive.
Barcelona’s momentum was briefly halted when Pau Cubarsi had a goal disallowed, adding to the tension before Araujo’s decisive late finish sealed all three points.
The night wasn’t without controversy, as head coach Hansi Flick was sent off ruling him out of the upcoming Clasico and leaving his side without their manager for the crucial tie.
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The win ended Barcelona’s run of two straight defeats and showcased their resilience despite injuries to key players such as Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
With the Clasico looming, Flick’s side will need to improve their finishing as they push to turn dominant performances into consistent results.