Alex Balde (R) of Barcelona vies with Bryan Gil of Girona during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
MADRID, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ronald Araujo scored a 93th-minute winner as FC Barcelona narrowly defeated Girona 2-1 at home on Saturday.
The Uruguayan defender scored after a cross from Frenkie de Jong, propelling his side back to the top of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid's visit to Getafe on Sunday, although the performance left a lot to be desired.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick gave a start to young forward Toni Fernandez amid a string of injuries in attack. The host opened the scoring early, with Pedri finishing after good work from Yamine Lamal.
Barcelona controlled the opening 20 minutes, but the game opened up after Axel Witsel's equalizer, and Girona started to pose a more dangerous threat on the break. Portu hit the post after Girona tore apart a shaky home defense, and the visitor squandered several more chances, leaving the score 1-1.
The home side had more control in the second half, but goal-scoring chances diminished until Araujo's dramatic late strike decided the match.
Flick will have to watch next weekend's clash against Real Madrid from the stands after being sent off and could face a lengthy touchline ban for making an obscene gesture afterward.
Elsewhere, Antony scored twice, with his second goal coming deep into injury time, to secure a 2-2 draw for Betis away to Villarreal.
Villarreal led 2-0 early in the second half thanks to goals from Tajon Buchanan and Alberto Moleiro, but Antony's late curling shot ensured justice was done.
Atletico Madrid won 1-0 at home to Osasuna with Thiago Almada scoring the only goal in the 69th minute. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities, Diego Simeone's was repeatedly denied by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.
Mallorca stunned Sevilla 3-1 with three goals in 10 minutes in the second half to climb off the bottom of the table. Ruben Vargas opened the scoring for Sevilla, but Vedat Muriqi's equalizer in the 67th minute, followed by back-to-back goals from Mateo Joseph, sealed an unlikely victory for Mallorca.
Luis Carrion's second spell as Oviedo coach got off to a poor start on Friday night, as second half goals from Kike Garcia and Pere Milla condemned his side to a 2-0 defeat at home to Espanyol. Carrion was named head coach after Veljko Paunovic's abrupt sacking after just eight games, despite leading Oviedo to promotion last season. ■
Jules Kounde (L) of Barcelona vies with Jhon Solis (C) of Girona for a header during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Lamine Yamal (2nd R) of Barcelona shoots during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Eric Garcia (R) of Barcelona vies with Portu of Girona during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Roony Bardghji (L) of Barcelona vies with Alex Moreno of Girona during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Players of Barcelona celebrate the victory after the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Fermin Lopez (L) of Barcelona shoots during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Lamine Yamal (L) of Barcelona vies with Alex Moreno of Girona during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Pedri of Barcelona shoots to score during the La Liga football match between Barcelona and Girona in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Robin Le Normand (2nd R) of Atletico de Madrid vies with Victor Munoz of CA Osasuna during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Marcos Llorente (R) of Atletico de Madrid vies with Victor Munoz of CA Osasuna during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Pablo Barrios (R) of Atletico de Madrid vies with Raul Garcia of CA Osasuna during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Robin Le Normand (L) of Atletico de Madrid vies with Jon Moncayola of CA Osasuna during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Alexander Sorloth (R) of Atletico de Madrid vies with Alejandro Catena of CA Osasuna during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Pablo Barrios (L) of Atletico de Madrid vies with Victor Munoz of CA Osasuna during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Marcos Llorente (L) of Atletico de Madrid vies with Victor Munoz of CA Osasuna during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Thiago Almada (top) of Atletico de Madrid celebrates his goal with his teammates during the La Liga football match between Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)