{"id":50008,"date":"2025-10-18T18:23:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T16:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weisetech.dev\/fc-barcelona-noticias\/en\/barcelona-2-1-girona-araujo-rescues-cules-at-last-minute_315052_102\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:32:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:32:28","slug":"barcelona-2-1-girona-araujo-rescues-cules-at-last-minute_315052_102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com\/en\/laliga\/barcelona-2-1-girona-araujo-rescues-cules-at-last-minute_315052_102.html","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona 2-1 Girona: Ronald Araujo returns Flick’s team to the top of LaLiga"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bar\u00e7a returned to the path of victory with a hard-fought win against Girona (2-1). In a great match at MontJu\u00efc, Ronald Araujo prevented another Bar\u00e7a setback with a superb goal in the 90+3′ minute<\/h2> \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Calendar of FC Barcelona <\/a>\r\n<\/div>

FC Barcelona<\/strong> reclaimed the lead in LaLiga EA Sports 2025\/26<\/strong> on matchday 9 thanks to a stunning late goal from Ronald Araujo<\/strong>. The ‘Cul\u00e9s’ struggled much more than expected against a Girona side that knew how to stand up at Montju\u00efc, but ultimately added 3 golden points to surpass, momentarily, Real Madrid<\/strong> by one point in the standings.<\/p>

Injuries<\/a> forced Hansi Flick to opt for a surprise lineup, but once again Bar\u00e7a suffered two recurring problems in the week leading up to the second break of the 25\/26 season: defensive fragility and a lack of decisiveness<\/strong>.<\/p>

Bar\u00e7a made 27 shots, 9 of them on goal. In addition, the team had 68% possession. But they had to wait until 90+3′ to take the victory. Ronald Araujo was the hero and scorer of the day<\/strong> to avoid another setback and unleash the madness in Montju\u00efc.<\/p>

Girona Surprised Bar\u00e7a After Pedri’s Initial Goal<\/h2>

Hansi Flick opted for an unprecedented attack, with Lamine Yamal returning to the starting XI<\/a> to accompany Marcus Rashford<\/strong> and Toni Fern\u00e1ndez<\/strong> as a ‘false 9’. The Azulgrana team completed a remarkable opening quarter of an hour, putting M\u00edchel’s side against the ropes.<\/p>

Pedri Gonz\u00e1lez<\/a> opened the scoring in the 13th minute, sending a pass into the net to culminate a great collective play by Bar\u00e7a. It looked like a rout in favor of the ‘cul\u00e9s’ was coming before halftime, but Girona reacted quickly to the initial disadvantage.<\/p>

\"Pedri's
Pedri’s definition to put Bar\u00e7a ahead against Girona<\/div> <\/div> <\/div>

In the 20th minute, in the first dangerous approach to the rival area, Axel Witsel surprised Szczesny with an acrobatic finish<\/strong>. The Belgian took advantage of Arnau Mart\u00ednez’s anticipation after a corner to execute a spectacular bicycle kick.<\/p>

The Bar\u00e7a fans once again worried Gazzaniga with a shot from Frenkie <\/strong>that the Argentinian cleared with difficulty, and a free kick from Rashford <\/strong>that went directly to the crossbar. From 1-1, the match became a spectacular back-and-forth.<\/p>

However, Girona found it easy to break the offside trap<\/strong> of the usually advanced Bar\u00e7a defense. Vanat tested Szczesny in a one-on-one in the 22nd minute, while Portu sent another shot against the post in the 24th minute.<\/p>

Bryan Gil and Witsel also wasted very clear opportunities<\/strong> before the break, while the Bar\u00e7a defense was leaking as an intense rain was unleashed in Montju\u00efc. The storm would extend throughout the second half, with a Barcelona a little more composed on the field after long minutes of uncertainty.<\/p>

Gazzaniga, Girona’s hero in the second half<\/h2>

At halftime, Flick brought on Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez for Toni Fern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>. The entry of the player from Huelva gave the Bar\u00e7a attack more balance, as well as an extra weapon: the shot from outside the area. The ’16’ tested Gazzaniga’s reflexes in the 49th minute and hit the post in the 53rd, with a pair of long-range shots.<\/p>

M\u00edchel’s team, as the minutes passed, lost the strength to hurt on the counter, while Bar\u00e7a once again created a lot of danger on the flanks. In the 63rd minute, Roony Bardghji and Andreas Christensen also came on for Lamine and Pedri<\/strong>, in accordance with the coaching staff’s planned distribution of minutes.<\/p>

The Swedish winger came on and did quite well<\/strong>, providing an assist with the outside of his boot that was wasted by a Rashford who was off-balance when it came to finishing from close range. The Englishman also tried his luck with a few shots from the edge of the box, but Gazzaniga, who had already become a key figure for the visitors, prevented his goal from being breached.<\/p>

Gil Manzano messed up again in the Bar\u00e7a-Girona match<\/h2>

Rashford, in fact, was also at the center of the controversy of the day in the 73rd minute. The ’14’ of the ‘Azulgranas’ ran in the dispute for a ball and, entering the area, was knocked down by a slap to the face from the Brazilian Vitor Reis<\/strong>. The images showed the contact, but Jes\u00fas Gil Manzano did not sanction the possible penalty. Juan Luis Pulido, from VAR, did not make any call either.<\/p>

Previously, in the 61st minute, the referee from Extremadura had disallowed a goal by Pau Cubars\u00ed<\/a><\/strong> due to a previous foul by Eric Garc\u00eda. The ’24’ anticipated Hugo Rinc\u00f3n in the air, but the referee considered that there was an illegal charge by the player from Martorell. When the ball fell to the ‘5’ of Bar\u00e7a to finish, Gil Manzano had already rushed to whistle the foul in favor of Girona.<\/p>

To top it all off, the manager, Hansi Flick, was sent off<\/a> towards the end for protesting the added time<\/strong>. Despite the substitutions and several interruptions in the second half, the referee only gave 4 minutes of added time.<\/p>

Ronald Araujo, Bar\u00e7a’s unexpected ‘9’<\/h2>

In the 80th minute, Flick took off Marc Casad\u00f3 for Ronald Araujo<\/strong> to provide greater solidity in Barcelona’s offensive aerial game. Earlier, Gerard Mart\u00edn had also come on for Balde<\/strong>, thus maintaining the line of 4 at the back.<\/p>

Right on time, in the 90+3′, the Bar\u00e7a puncture seemed inevitable, but Araujo, as a ‘9’, scored a great goal to give the Bar\u00e7a team the 3 points<\/strong>. Frenkie de Jong broke down the right, filtering a pass to the middle that found the ‘Charr\u00faa’ anticipating the central defenders like a true ‘killer’.<\/p>

Dramatic Bar\u00e7a victory to recover, for now, the LaLiga leadership with 22 points<\/strong>, one more than Real Madrid. The ‘merengues’ visit Getafe on Sunday. On October 26, it will be time for the first Cl\u00e1sico of the 25\/26 season at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u.<\/p>

Match Stats: FC Barcelona 2-1 Girona<\/h2>