Araujo Saves Barça in the 93rd Minute!
A dramatic Catalan derby ends with a 93rd-minute winner as Barça fight back to stay on top.
Barcelona returned to winning ways — and to the top of La Liga, at least for now — after a dramatic 2–1 victory over Girona at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium.
It wasn’t pretty, and it definitely wasn’t easy, but Ronald Araujo’s stoppage-time strike turned a frustrating afternoon into pure celebration.
Dream Start Turns Into Chaos
Hansi Flick surprised everyone with a fresh 4-3-3 setup, using youngster Toni Fernández as a false nine. For the first 15 minutes, Barça looked unstoppable. Fast passes, smart movement, total control. And soon, they had their reward.
Lamine Yamal slipped a clever ball to Pedri, who calmly placed his shot off the post and into the net — pure magic from “The Wizard.”
But then, out of nowhere, everything fell apart. Barça lost rhythm, energy, and focus, allowing Girona to take over. Axel Witsel equalized with a stunning bicycle kick, and Girona could have scored three more if not for wasted chances and Wojciech Szczesny’s key saves.
Barça were lucky to reach halftime still level.
Fermín Sparks Life Back Into Barça
Flick made changes at the break, bringing on Fermín López — and instantly, the energy changed. The young midfielder’s intensity and movement lifted the entire team.
Barcelona pushed forward again and even had the ball in the net through Pau Cubarsí, but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the buildup. Soon after, Marcus Rashford almost scored from distance, forcing a brilliant save from Paulo Gazzaniga.
Despite all their pressure, Barça couldn’t find a way through. Penalty appeals for a hand to Rashford’s face were ignored, and frustration started to rise on the touchline — especially for Flick, who was sent off late for arguing with the referee.
Araujo Becomes the Hero
With time slipping away, Flick threw on Araujo as an emergency striker. The gamble paid off in stunning fashion. In the 93rd minute, Frenkie de Jong’s low cross found Araujo, who finished like a natural forward — calm, clean, and clinical.
The stadium exploded. Relief, joy, disbelief — all in one moment.
Barcelona held on for the win, showing grit and belief even when their performance was far from perfect. It might not have been a masterpiece, but in a tough period filled with injuries and pressure, this could be the turning point they desperately needed.
