Three things you might have missed from Barcelona 2-1 Girona | OneFootball

The clash between Barcelona and Girona was nothing short of dramatic – a match that had everything from rain to sunshine, tension to pure joy.

The night ended with Ronald Araujo’s unforgettable moment, as the Uruguayan centre-back scored deep into stoppage time to seal a vital win for Hansi Flick’s side.

It wasn’t just another La Liga match. Returning from the international break, Barcelona were hit hard by injuries, missing several key players.

Yet, under Flick, the team rediscovered its fight and energy, managing to turn around the frustration that had built up following defeats to PSG and Sevilla.

Flick opted for a refreshed starting XI, mixing youth and experience to restore control. However, as the match progressed, Barcelona were forced into a more aggressive and experimental setup.

Despite the victory, Flick’s evening ended on a sour note, as the German manager was sent off and will now have to watch the next match – a high-stakes clash against Real Madrid – from the stands.

Montjuïc still doesn’t feel like home

Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys does not feel like home. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

One of the talking points from the night was the atmosphere inside the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The Montjuic venue, while historic, continues to struggle to feel like Barcelona’s true home.

We already knew that when Barça play, the stadium fills up with tourists. It is something that even the Blaugrana board promotes because it brings in much-needed revenue to keep the wheels turning.

What we didn’t know was that you could hear the Girona fans much more than the Barça fans.

The Estadi Olimpic has become a venue where Barça often seems like the visiting team. For a stadium that holds just over 55,000, the attendance of slightly more than 43,000 once again highlighted the disconnect between the fans and the venue.

Barcelona are picking up results, but the lack of that intense home support remains noticeable.

Casado wins hearts with a commanding display

Marc Casado is a cule. Anyone who says otherwise knows little about the La Masia prodigy.

Given a start in a depleted midfield, Casado joined forces with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, and his performance left a mark.

During his 82 minutes on the pitch, he managed 86 touches, completed 72 of 76 passes (95%), created two chances, completed his only long ball attempt (100%), and was never dispossessed.

Defensively, he added two blocks, two interceptions, four recoveries, and won half of his ground duels.

What the footballer experiences and conveys to the fans is so intense that when he was substituted, he received a standing ovation.

When, after being substituted, he walked along the side of the pitch towards the bench, his name rang out and the applause was unanimous. And the way he celebrated Araujo’s winner, it was a sight to behold.

Flick’s message through Yuste’s words

Hansi Flick’s celebration of Ronald Araujo’s winning goal against Girona has sparked a multitude of reactions, and one of those who has expressed his opinion on the matter is Rafa Yuste, vice president of FC Barcelona.

As he left the venue, Yuste was asked inside his vehicle about Flick’s viral celebration and joked about the German coach’s gesture.

“The celebration? It’s a butifarra (sausages), a typical Catalan dish… I see that Flick is very well integrated,” said Yuste, downplaying the controversy that some want to fuel.

With his sending off against Girona, Flick will not be able to officiate the next league match against Real Madrid.