Barcelona left it late but found their spark again as Ronald Araújo’s dramatic stoppage-time strike earned them a 2-1 win over Girona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The victory their first in three games not only put them back on top of LaLiga but also restored belief after a turbulent few weeks, Softfootball reports.
Hansi Flick’s men came into the Catalan derby desperate to respond after being humbled 4-1 by Sevilla before the international break. The atmosphere in Montjuïc was tense but hopeful, and Barça started like a team with a point to prove. Marcus Rashford forced Paulo Gazzaniga into an early save with a thunderous free-kick, while teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, making his return after a short spell out injured, caused endless problems down the right.
The pressure finally told when Pedri produced a moment of magic dancing through traffic and rolling a clever finish in off the post to put Barcelona ahead and extend their incredible record of 47 straight games with a goal. It was exactly the kind of start Flick would have dreamt of.
But Girona had no intention of being passengers in this derby. They weathered the early storm and struck back through the experienced Axel Witsel, who stunned the home crowd with a sensational overhead kick to make it 1-1. Suddenly, the game was wide open. Girona even came close to taking the lead when Portu hit the post, while at the other end, Gazzaniga pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Frenkie de Jong.
The intensity didn’t dip after the break. Fermín López tried his luck from distance, Rashford saw a series of efforts saved, and the rain only added to the chaos. Girona threatened on the counter, with Bryan Gil missing a golden chance, but it was Barça who looked likelier to find a winner as they pinned their visitors back in the final stages.
With time running out, frustration began to creep in. Flick was shown a red card for dissent as it looked like another frustrating night was on the cards for his team. But then, in the 93rd minute, Ronald Araújo popped up at the far post to smash home a loose ball and send the stadium into pandemonium.
During the game, Barcelona official X handle couldn’t resist posting Araujo’s celebration after scoring the winner against Girona, They posted:
It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but this was a statement win, the kind of victory that can give momentum to a season. Girona, meanwhile, will be left wondering what more they could have done, as their run of 12 straight defeats after conceding first continues, a streak that began against Barcelona last March.
For Barça, it was all about heart, resilience, and a much-needed reminder that even in chaos, they still know how to find a way.
