Girona 2-1 Barcelona Player Ratings: Yamal Misses Penalty as Hansi Flick's Side Loses After Second-Half Drama | La Liga

FC Barcelona endured a disheartening defeat against Girona in a chaotic La Liga clash that saw enough drama in the second half. Barcelona dominated possession and created numerous chances but failed to bag three points. In this article, we'll discuss Girona vs Barcelona player ratings from the La Liga fixture.

Hansi Flick's Barcelona missed a crucial opportunity just before halftime when Lamine Yamal failed to convert from the penalty spot. The miss proved to be a key turning point, as Girona grew in belief after the break.

Barcelona thought they had secured the win when Pau Cubarsi scored what appeared to be the decisive goal. However, Girona responded almost immediately, refusing to back down and shifting the momentum once again.

The closing stages were frantic. Girona’s substitutes made a decisive impact, and a late goal sealed a memorable comeback in front of the home crowd. For FC Barcelona, it was a painful loss and a match they will regret not finishing when they had the chance.

Key Takeaways

1. Lamine Yamal missed a first-half penalty, giving Girona renewed confidence after the break.
2. Pau Cubarsí scored what looked like the winning goal, but Girona equalised almost immediately.
3. Girona’s substitutes made the difference late on, sealing a dramatic comeback win over FC Barcelona in La Liga.

FC Barcelona Player Ratings vs Girona

Here are Barcelona player ratings from the La Liga game against Girona:

Goalkeeper

Joan García - 8.0: Honestly, we thought he was fantastic. He made a whopping seven saves, including some absolutely crucial stops to keep his team in it. You can't really blame him for the two goals he conceded, he was left exposed by his defense. Without his heroics, the scoreline could have been much worse for Barca. A truly valiant effort in a losing cause.

Defenders

Pau Cubarsí - 8.5: What a performance from the young defender, just incredible. He was imperious at the back, winning his duels and showing unbelievable composure with 117 accurate passes. And to top it all off, he popped up with a fantastic goal. From our view, he was Barcelona's best player by a country mile. Truly a bright spot on a disappointing night.

Jules Koundé - 6.0: A really mixed bag for Koundé. He did provide the assist for Cubarsí's goal which was a definite positive moment for him. However, he looked shaky at times, losing possession a costly 16 times and picking up a yellow card. Not his worst game, but we expected a bit more stability from a senior player.

Gerard Martín - 6.0: He had a decent enough outing before being subbed off just after the hour mark. He was tidy in possession and tried to contribute to the attack with a key pass. Didn't do much wrong, but didn't exactly set the world on fire either. A standard, forgettable performance.

Eric García - 5.5: It was a tough night for García against his former club. He picked up an early yellow card and seemed to struggle with Girona's attackers before being substituted. He lost the ball in some bad areas and just didn't look comfortable. A performance he'll likely want to forget quickly.

Midfielders

Fermín López - 6.0: He was a bundle of energy in the midfield, always looking to get a shot off and drive forward. The problem was, none of his four shots really troubled the keeper. He worked hard but his end product was severely lacking. We noticed his frustration growing as the game went on.

Dani Olmo - 7.5: We were really impressed with Olmo's creativity and intelligence. He was a constant threat, creating three chances and winning the penalty with his clever movement inside the box. He was the main creative spark in that midfield, linking play beautifully. A very good showing before his substitution.

Frenkie de Jong - 6.5: The captain was neat and tidy as always, completing an impressive 95% of his passes. He controlled the tempo for large parts of the game for Barcelona. But from our perspective, we needed more from him in the final third. He kept things ticking over but lacked that decisive, game-changing pass.

Forwards

Ferran Torres - 5.5: A very frustrating evening for Ferran. He got into some good positions but his finishing let him down, especially with one big missed chance in the first half. He was subbed off having made very little impact on the proceedings. He really needs to be more clinical in front of goal.

Lamine Yamal - 5.0: Oh, Lamine. It just was not his night. He was incredibly busy and always wanted the ball, taking six shots which is a lot. But missing two big chances and, crucially, that penalty, is what this performance will be remembered for. The confidence just seemed to drain from him after that spot-kick hit the post.

Raphinha - 6.5: Raphinha was a livewire in his 63 minutes on the pitch. He created four chances and was a constant menace with his direct running and crosses. We were a bit surprised to see him taken off, as he looked like one of Barca's most likely sources for a goal. An odd decision.

Substitutes

Roony Bardghji - 6.0: Came on and had a couple of shots, looking to make things happen but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Alejandro Balde - 6.5: Provided some much-needed energy down the left flank and created a chance.

Robert Lewandowski - 5.5: Was caught offside a couple of times and didn't really get into the flow of the game.

Ronald Araujo - N/A: Not on long enough to make a real impact on the game.

Marc Bernal - N/A: Came on late to replace the tired Olmo and shore things up.

Manager

H. Flick - 5.0: His team created enough chances to win two games but were extremely wasteful. The decision to take off Raphinha was questionable to us, and his side couldn't see out the game after taking the lead. A tough day at the office for the manager.

Girona Player Ratings vs FC Barcelona

Here are Girona player ratings from the match against Barcelona:

Goalkeeper

Paulo Gazzaniga - 6.5: A bit of a strange game for him. His distribution with his feet was poor, leading to lost possession. However, he made four saves and wasn't beaten by the penalty. He did what he had to do but looked shaky at times. Still, a win's a win.

Defenders

Hugo Rincón - 7.0: A very solid defensive display from the right-back. He was strong in the tackle, winning most of his duels and making some key clearances. He kept the Barca attackers relatively quiet on his side of the pitch. A disciplined and effective performance.

Arnau Martínez - 7.5: The captain led by example from the heart of defense. He was a rock at the back, making a massive seven clearances and three crucial blocks. He was constantly organizing the backline and throwing himself in front of everything. A true captain's performance.

Vitor Reis - 7.5: What stood out to us was his incredible reading of the game. Nine clearances is an immense stat for a centre-back. He was in the right place at the right time over and over again. He did get a yellow card, but it was a small price to pay for such a dominant defensive outing.

Daley Blind - 6.0: A real rollercoaster of a performance for the veteran. He gave away the penalty with a clumsy challenge which could have cost his team dearly. However, he recovered well and made nine clearances and three interceptions. He made a huge mistake but atoned for it with his overall defensive work.

Midfielders

Thomas Lemar - 8.0: He was the one who dragged his team back into the game with a vital goal. His finish was perfectly taken and came at a crucial moment. Before being subbed, he was a driving force, completing all his dribbles and working hard off the ball. A fantastic contribution.

Viktor Tsygankov - 7.0: He was a creative force for Girona, always looking to make something happen. He created a couple of chances and kept the Barcelona defence on their toes all game. A very tidy and influential performance in the middle of the park.

Axel Witsel - 6.5: A classic Axel Witsel performance. He did the dirty work in midfield, breaking up play and frustrating the opposition. He wasn't always pretty on the ball, but his defensive contribution was vital to the team's structure.

Bryan Gil - 7.0: Very lively before he was substituted. He created two big chances and his direct running caused all sorts of problems for Barca. A really promising display full of energy and creativity that tired the opposition out.

Iván Martín - 6.5: A steady and reliable presence in the Girona midfield. He kept possession well and made some important ball recoveries. Didn't grab the headlines but played his role effectively for the team.

Attacker

Vladyslav Vanat - 8.0: A superb performance up front. He provided the clinical assist for the equalizer and was a constant handful for the defenders. His movement was excellent, and he created two key chances for his teammates. We thought his hold-up play was particularly impressive.

Substitutes

Joel Roca - 8.0: What an incredible impact! He came off the bench and provided the assist for the winning goal. A genuine game-changer for his team.

Fran Beltrán - 8.5: The hero of the day. Scored the winning goal with a cool, composed finish. You can't ask for more from a substitute. The highest-rated player on the pitch for us.

Alejandro Francés - N/A: Brought on late in the game to help see out the historic win.

Manager

M. Sánchez Muñoz - 9.0: A tactical masterclass from the Girona boss. His team stayed in the game despite being under immense pressure, and his substitutions were absolutely perfect. Joel Roca and Fran Beltrán came on to win the match. He deserves immense credit for this famous victory.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match goes to Fran Beltran, who scored the winner for Girona F.C.

Worst Performer

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal missed a crucial penalty in the first half.