Barcelona moved top of La Liga on Saturday after Ronald Araujo struck deep into stoppage time to earn the champions a 2-1 win over Girona. The defender, brought on as an emergency forward, scored in the 93rd minute to give Barca a one-point lead over Real Madrid, who visit Getafe on Sunday. Elsewhere, Antony struck twice for fourth-placed Real Betis to earn them a 2-2 draw against third-placed Villarreal. After two consecutive defeats, Hansi Flick’s Barca were just able to beat 19th-placed Girona thanks to Araujo’s late goal. Pedri Gonzalez gave Barcelona an early lead but Axel Witsel equalized with a superb overhead kick for a Girona side who came close to securing a deserved point. “We didn’t play our best game but we fought until the end and we scored that goal – it will give us confidence for the next games, at least that’s what I hope,” Barca coach Flick said. Flick brought Lamine Yamal back into the starting line-up after recovering from the groin injury that kept him out of Spain’s recent World Cup qualifiers. The teenage winger also missed the 4-1 thrashing by Sevilla in Barcelona’s last La Liga outing, from which the Catalans could only bounce back. With several players, including striker Robert Lewandowski injured, Flick handed a league debut to 17-year-old forward Toni Fernandez. In keeping with the protest organized by the Spanish Football Association against Barca’s match against Villarreal in December being moved to Miami, both sets of players stood still for 15 seconds after the kick-off whistle. Barca took the initiative and took a 13th-minute lead after Jules Konde and Yamal combined well, allowing midfielder Pedri to volley into the bottom right corner. Girona, who finished in the top four two seasons ago but have struggled since then, soon found a way back to level. Witsel produced a stunning overhead kick to equalize in the 20th minute and shock the hosts. The visitors broke behind Barcelona’s high line several times to create danger. Cristian Portu hit the post after getting in behind Barca’s defense and Girona denied two more one-on-ones. Marcus Rashford hit the crossbar with a free-kick at the other end as a warning to the minnows. – ‘We needed it’ – Flick made a surprise double change, withdrawing star players Yamal and Pedri despite rushing the game, with Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Olympiakos in mind, as well as next weekend’s Clasico. Paulo Gazzaniga produced a superb save at his near post to thwart Rashford, who also waved away a penalty appeal. Flick sent on centre-back Araujo in desperation as a striker in the closing stages and the Uruguayan delivered deep into stoppage time, finishing Frenkie de Jong’s cross to grab three points. Araujo ripped his shirt off in celebration as Barca secured a victory that looked unlikely after a flat second-half performance. “At the moment we are leading the table so it is a good situation, Real Madrid must win tomorrow,” said Flick. “We miss the dynamic that we normally have… I miss it a bit… we needed this goal and this win today.” Flick was sent off in the closing stages for dissent and is set for a ban from the sidelines at the Santiago Bernabeu next weekend, and perhaps beyond, after making a gesture deemed rude in Spain when celebrating Araujo’s goal. Girona were licking their wounds after a fifth defeat of the campaign. “We feel that we played a great game… (but) we had four or five clear chances and should have scored more to kill the game,” Witsel told DAZN. “It’s tough mentally to concede a goal like that, but we have to think about the first half (we played) … and keep that in mind for our next game.” Atletico Madrid host Osasuna later on Saturday with the aim of drawing level with Betis. Former Manchester United winger Antony’s brace helped the Andalusians hold off Villarreal with two goals down, leaving the Yellow Submarine five points behind Barca and one ahead of Betis. rbs/dmc/jc/nf
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