United News of Bangladesh

Girona stunned Barcelona 2-1 in a heated Catalan derby on Monday as teenage star Lamine Yamal missed a first-half penalty, costing the visitors a chance to reclaim top spot in La Liga. Barcelona now trail arch-rivals Real Madrid by two points in the title race after substitute Fran Beltran struck late to secure all three points for Girona at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi. The visitors briefly went ahead just before the hour mark when defender Pau Cubarsí headed home his first league goal from a cross by Jules Koundé. But the lead lasted only two minutes as Thomas Lemar equalised for Girona, tapping in from close range. Girona completed the comeback in the 86th minute through Beltran, whose goal stood despite Barcelona protests over a possible foul in the build-up. A brief VAR review upheld the decision. Earlier, Barcelona had squandered several clear chances. Yamal missed twice from close range before smashing a penalty against the post in first-half stoppage time. The home side were reduced to 10 men deep into added time when Joel Roca was sent off for a reckless challenge on Yamal, but Barcelona failed to take advantage and could not find an equaliser. The defeat is Barcelona’s second in a row in all competitions and their third league loss this season to regional rivals. Girona, meanwhile, ended a three-match winless run, easing relegation worries as they climbed to mid-table. Barcelona’s winning streak in the league ends at three matches, with pressure mounting ahead of their next fixture as the title race tightens.   With inputs from BBC

Ronald Araujo struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Barcelona edged Girona 2–1 in La Liga on Saturday, but head coach Hansi Flick’s red card late in the match cast a shadow over the victory ahead of next week’s El Clasico. The match appeared to be heading for a draw when Araujo, who came on in the 82nd minute, slid in to convert a cut-back from Frenkie de Jong in the third minute of added time. The defender ripped off his shirt in celebration as the home crowd erupted at the Olympic Stadium. Earlier, Pedri had given Barcelona the lead in the 13th minute with a fine low finish after combining with Lamine Yamal. Girona levelled in the 20th minute through Belgian midfielder Alex Witsel, who found the net with a spectacular bicycle kick following a corner. Messi breaks another record in international football Barcelona dominated possession, enjoying 68 percent of the ball and registering 27 shots, nine of them on target. Girona had 11 attempts, with four on goal. Despite creating several chances in the second half, the hosts were repeatedly denied by the Girona goalkeeper until Araujo’s late winner. The victory ended Barcelona’s run of two straight defeats in all competitions, including losses to PSG in the Champions League and Sevilla in La Liga before the international break. With the win, the defending champions moved one point clear at the top with 22 points from nine matches. Real Madrid, second with 21 points from a game in hand, can regain the lead if they beat Getafe on Sunday. Ronaldo breaks new record as Hungary hold Portugal in WC qualifier However, Barcelona’s celebrations were slightly dampened as head coach Flick received a second yellow card for dissent just before Araujo’s goal, ruling him out of the season’s first El Clásico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.