Barcelona lost 2-1 at Montilivi to Girona, with a late winner leaving Hansi Flick’s team frustrated.
The club arrived at the match following a heavy defeat referenced in the text as Flick’s heaviest in 21 years from his time in the lower leagues. Real Madrid were top of La Liga before kickoff, and the title race already looks like a head-to-head battle, so anything less than a win at Girona was unacceptable for Barcelona.
Defensive balance is a concern. The back four were not at their best at times, though the defense looked more settled when Gerard Marin occupied the left with Eric positioned slightly inside. After Alejandro Balde’s poor showing in the previous game, Marin has a chance to claim that spot and push Balde to a backup role. Choosing between Koundé and João Cancelo on the opposite side is another selection puzzle for Flick. The coach has plenty to think about after his side once again gave up numerous chances — as Joan Garcia pointed out, they concede far too easily and relying on many saves is not something to celebrate.
Missed opportunities proved costly. Lamine showed his usual swagger but can be wasteful when things are not going his way; with acres of space in the first half he should have squared the ball or taken simpler chances rather than hunting the highlight-reel finish. Yamal also missed a penalty, and he was not the only Barça player wasteful in front of goal. Barcelona hit the post twice, attempted 27 shots across the match but only scored once. Their finishing must improve.
Where has the ‘winning mentality’ gone? If Barcelona want to win titles they must perform far better than they did at the Metropolitano and Montilivi. You cannot simply turn up and expect to win — every point and trophy must be earned. No cutting corners, no half-hearted displays; several players are currently performing below the club’s required standard. Simply not good enough.
