In the 9th round of the Spanish Championship, Barcelona faced Girona at home and achieved a hard-fought but vital victory.
The hosts dominated early on, though Girona created several dangerous chances on the counter. The first half ended goalless, but the second turned into pure drama.
In the dying moments, Barcelona pushed forward with all their might. Finally, in the 90+3rd minute, Ronald Araújo headed in the winning goal from a corner kick.
Just a few minutes earlier, a shocking scene had unfolded — head coach Hans-Dieter Flick was shown a second yellow card for arguing with the referee and was sent off.
As a result, the German coach will be unable to lead his team in the upcoming El Clásico. Under La Liga regulations, two yellow cards result in a suspension, preventing him from being on the touchline against Real Madrid next round.
Flick will now have to watch the clash at Santiago Bernabéu from the stands or remotely. This poses a major test for the team, especially as Barcelona have recently found their rhythm again.
The highly anticipated El Clásico between title contenders Real Madrid and Barcelona will take place on October 26. It’s considered one of the most awaited fixtures of the season, and fans from both sides are eagerly preparing.
Before that, both teams will play their UEFA Champions League group stage matches. On October 21, Barcelona will host Olympiacos of Greece, a crucial game psychologically for the Catalans.
A day later, Real Madrid will welcome Italy’s Juventus at the Bernabéu. The Madrid side aims to consolidate their domestic lead while maintaining consistency in Europe.
If Barcelona perform well without Flick, it will show the team’s internal strength. Yet his absence during El Clásico will be a real challenge. After Araújo’s winning goal, Barça fans have renewed confidence heading into the Real Madrid showdown.
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