BARCELONA
Ronald Araújo scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Barcelona edged Girona 2-1 in La Liga on Saturday, ending a two-match losing streak and lifting the team to the top of the table ahead of next week’s clasico against Real Madrid.
The defender, sent forward in the final minutes by coach Hansi Flick, slid in at the near post to turn in Frenkie de Jong’s low cross, sparking jubilant celebrations at the Estadi Olímpic. However, moments earlier, Flick was sent off after receiving two yellow cards for protesting stoppage time. His dismissal means he will miss the season’s first clasico.
Pedri González had opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 13th minute with a composed finish, but Girona equalized through Axel Witsel’s acrobatic bicycle kick seven minutes later. Girona then dominated stretches of the game, with Cristian Portu hitting the post and Bryan Gil missing a clear chance, while Barcelona relied on goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny to stay in the contest.
With key attackers Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres sidelined by injury, Flick’s tactical gamble of pushing Araújo forward paid off. “I’m really happy for Ronald; he always gives everything for the team,” Flick said.
The result put Barcelona one point ahead of Madrid, who face Getafe on Sunday. Before their trip to the capital, Barcelona will host Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday. Girona coach Míchel Sánchez called the defeat “a hard blow,” admitting his team “should have cleared the final cross better.”
