FC Barcelona Vs Girona Player Ratings: Araujo's Late Goal Seals Dramatic 2-1 Victory

What a rollercoaster of a match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. This LaLiga clash had everything. From our perspective, FC Barcelona deserved the win, but they certainly left it late. The game exploded into life early, with both teams trading blows from the first whistle. Barcelona seized the initiative when Pedri clinically finished a move in the 13th minute. It felt like they might run away with it. But Girona had other ideas, showing immense character. They fought back and found an equalizer through Axel Witsel just seven minutes later, stunning the home crowd.

The second half was a siege on the Girona goal. Barcelona threw everything they had, hitting the woodwork and forcing some heroic saves. Just when it seemed a draw was inevitable, substitute Ronald Araujo popped up in stoppage time. He smashed the ball home, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory in the final moments of the match. Here are the FC Barcelona Vs Girona player ratings:

FC Barcelona Player Ratings vs Girona

Here are the FC Barcelona player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Wojciech Szczesny - 7.0: A solid performance from the keeper. He couldn't do anything about Witsel's well-placed goal. Made a couple of crucial saves, especially one from Joel Roca in the second half. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure. He commanded his box well and distributed the ball effectively.

Defenders

Jules Koundé - 6.5: A mixed bag from the Frenchman. He was involved in the build-up play and even created a chance. However, we noticed an error that led to a shot which was a bit worrying. He won most of his duels but also looked a little vulnerable at times.

Pau Cubarsí - 7.0: The youngster continues to impress with his maturity. His passing was almost flawless, with a 98% accuracy rate. He looked so calm on the ball it was remarkable. Defensively solid for the most part, though he was dribbled past once. He’s becoming such a reliable figure at the back for Barcelona.

Eric García - 6.5: Had a few decent moments, including some important clearances. But he also committed a couple of needless fouls in dangerous areas. He tried a shot from distance that went way over, which was ambitious to say the least. Not his best game, not his worst either. A pretty standard performance.

Alejandro Balde - 6.5: He was a constant outlet on the left flank before being substituted. Delivered a great cross and was always looking to get forward. Defensively, he was sound, winning most of his tackles and duels. His energy was good but he couldn't provide that game-changing moment. A decent shift overall.

Midfielders

Frenkie de Jong - 6.5: A strange game from the captain. He provided the assist for Balde's chance and created a big chance himself. However, he also missed a sitter that he should have buried. We expected more dominance from him in the middle of the park. He was tidy in possession but unusually quiet by his high standards.

Marc Casadó - 6.5: Played the holding midfield role with diligence. Kept the ball moving with a 95% pass accuracy. He screened the defense adequately and made a few recoveries. However, he offered little going forward. A safe, if unspectacular, performance from the youngster before being taken off.

Pedri - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply sublime before his substitution. Scored the opening goal with a brilliant finish, showcasing his attacking instincts. His touch and control in midfield were a joy to watch. He recovered the ball seven times, showing his defensive work rate too. A truly class performance.

Forwards

Lamine Yamal - 7.5: A bundle of energy and tricks on the right wing. He provided the assist for Pedri's goal and was a constant menace. He took six shots, which shows his intent, but maybe he was a bit wasteful. What stood out was his fearlessness in taking on defenders. An exciting performance, full of promise.

Marcus Rashford - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the forward. He was incredibly unlucky to hit the crossbar with a free-kick. But taking eight shots with only one on target tells the story. He just couldn't find his shooting boots. From our perspective, he needed to be more composed in front of goal.

Toni Fernández - 6.0: The young attacker was given a start but struggled to make an impact. He played for 46 minutes and had very few touches of the ball. It was a big occasion for him, and perhaps the pressure showed. He'll have better days, this just wasn't one of them.

Substitutes

Ronald Araujo - 8.0: The hero of the day. Came on late and instantly provided the winning moment with a powerful finish. What an impact from the defender playing in an advanced role. He won the game for his team. A perfect substitution.

Andreas Christensen - 6.5: Came on for Pedri to shore things up. He did his job without any fuss. A calm and composed cameo.

Gerard Martín - N/A: Came on late and didn't have enough time to influence the game.

Roony Bardghji - N/A: Replaced Yamal but didn't have many minutes to show his quality.

Fermín López - 7.0: He was electric after coming on at halftime. Hit the post and forced a good save from the keeper. He brought a new level of energy and directness to Barcelona's attack.

Manager

H. Flick - 7.5: His team controlled the game for large spells but lacked a clinical edge for a while. His substitutions, however, were spot on. Bringing on Fermín injected life into the attack and the late introduction of Araujo proved to be a masterstroke. He gets credit for chasing and getting the win.

Girona Player Ratings vs FC Barcelona

Here are the Girona player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Paulo Gazzaniga - 7.5: He can be proud of his performance despite the loss. Made three crucial saves to keep his team in the game for so long. He was commanding in his area and his distribution was decent. Couldn't do much about either of the goals. A very strong display.

Defenders

Hugo Rincón - 6.0: A tough day against Barcelona's tricky wingers. He held his own for periods but struggled to get forward and influence the attack. He lost possession a few times and seemed penned back. A battling but ultimately difficult performance.

Vitor Reis - 7.0: A really solid defensive display. Made five clearances and three blocked shots, throwing his body on the line for the team. He was composed and read the game well. From our perspective, he was one of Girona's better players on the day.

Daley Blind - 6.0: His experience showed with his positioning and passing. However, his lack of pace was exposed a couple of times. He was dribbled past once and looked uncomfortable against the speed of Barcelona's attack. A steady but unspectacular game.

Álex Moreno - 5.5: A really difficult game for the left-back. He struggled defensively, being dribbled past twice. He also picked up a yellow card for a clumsy foul. While he did create a big chance, his defensive shortcomings were evident.

Midfielders

Arnau Martínez - 7.0: The captain led by example before his unfortunate injury. He provided a clever headed assist for the equalizer. His passing was crisp and he worked tirelessly in midfield. Girona definitely missed his presence after he went off.

Axel Witsel - 8.0: A fantastic performance from the veteran midfielder. He took his goal like a seasoned striker, a brilliant finish. He was a disruptive force in midfield, making key interceptions and blocks. He battled hard and was arguably Girona's best player.

Joel Roca - 7.0: A very lively and impressive outing. He created two chances and was a constant threat with his running. Forced a good save from Szczesny and was always involved in Girona's best attacks. A promising display from the midfielder.

Bryan Gil - 5.0: This was a day to forget for him. He missed a glorious chance to put his team ahead, a moment that could have changed the game. He lost the ball frequently and was ineffective for most of his time on the pitch.

Forwards

Vladyslav Vanat - 6.5: He worked incredibly hard leading the line. He held the ball up well and brought others into play, creating one big chance. However, he didn't offer much of a goal threat himself. A tireless but fruitless performance in front of goal.

Portu - 7.0: Looked dangerous and was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork. His movement caused problems for the Barcelona defence. He was a real livewire before being substituted. A shame his effort didn't find the back of the net.

Substitutes

Jhon Solís - 6.0: Came on and had a big chance which he missed. Worked hard but couldn't provide the decisive touch.

Viktor Tsygankov - 6.0: Had one shot that went wide but was otherwise quiet after coming on.

Yáser Asprilla - 6.5: Looked bright and created a chance after his introduction.

Cristhian Stuani - 5.5: Came on and immediately got a yellow card. Didn't offer much else.

Lancinet Kourouma - N/A: Came on for the injured Martínez but had little time to make an impact.

Manager

M. Sánchez Muñoz - 7.0: His team showed great spirit to equalize and were defensively organized for large parts. They frustrated Barcelona and were seconds away from a brilliant point. He can be proud of the fight his team showed, even if the result was heartbreaking for them. A well-executed game plan that almost worked.

Sportsdunia’s Player of the Match is Pedri.