Barca suffer title defence blow in Girona derby defeat
Spanish champions Barcelona fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona on Monday to leave them trailing Real Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga...
✨ Key Highlights
Barcelona suffered a significant blow to their La Liga title defense, losing 2-1 to Girona in a derby match on Monday, February 16, 2026. This defeat leaves them two points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
- Barcelona initially led 1-0 through Pau Cubarsi before Girona scored two goals from Thomas Lemar and Fran Beltran to secure the win.
- Head coach Hansi Flick admitted Barcelona "defended very badly" and acknowledged the team was "not in a good moment."
- The match saw a missed penalty by Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and a controversial unpunished foul on Jules Kounde leading to Girona’s winning goal.
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Barcelona Suffers La Liga Defeat; PSG and Benfica Prepare for Champions League Playoffs - February 2026
Barcelona suffered a significant blow to their La Liga title defense after losing 2-1 to Girona in a derby match on Monday, February 16, 2026, leaving them two points behind league leaders Real Madrid. In other league news, Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams is sidelined indefinitely with a groin problem, as announced by the club on Monday. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has downplayed suggestions of dressing room issues ahead of their playoff first leg against domestic rivals Monaco. In a separate fixture, Benfica coach Jose Mourinho addressed rumors of a return to Real Madrid before their UEFA Champions League play-off rematch, confirming he has a contract clause allowing him to leave but stressing it was related to upcoming club elections.
