Lamine Yamal Misses Penalty, Barcelona Stumble and Are Dethroned by Real Madrid from LaLiga Top Spot

Barcelona's hopes of returning to the top of the 2025/2026 LaLiga Standings vanished. The dramatic 1-2 defeat to Girona FC at the Municipal de Montilivi Stadium on matchday 24, Saturday, February 17, 2026, early morning WIB, was not only painful but also saw them replaced by Real Madrid from the top spot.

The spotlight focused on a crucial moment late in the first half when Lamine Yamal failed to convert a penalty. In a tight and pressure-filled match, small details made the difference. Yamal's penalty miss altered the final outcome.

Barcelona had actually started dominantly. The team coached by Hansi Flick pressed and forced Girona to defend in a low block, although the hosts threatened several times through quick counter-attacks.

Just before halftime, Blaugrana were awarded a penalty. However, Yamal's kick, stepping up as the executioner, hit the post. 

Girona's goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, actually failed to guess the direction of the ball, but luck was still on the home side's side. The 0-0 scoreline held until the break.

Entering the second half, Barcelona broke the deadlock in the 59th minute. Young defender Pau Cubarsi, joining the attack, successfully headed in a ball from Jules Kounde. Barcelona led 1-0.

However, that lead lasted only three minutes as Girona equalized through Thomas Lemar in the 62nd minute. 

The match opened up even more in the final 15 minutes. While Barcelona appeared more cautious, Girona instead played aggressively. In the 87th minute, a precise shot from Fran Beltran beat Goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Although Barcelona players protested, arguing Jules Kounde was fouled in the build-up to the goal, the referee upheld the goal. The 2-1 score held until the match ended.

This defeat leaves Barcelona stuck in second place with 58 points, two points behind Real Madrid who had secured a big win earlier.

Real Madrid Step on the Gas at the Bernabeu

In another match, Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Gonzalo Garcia opened the scoring in the 5th minute, capitalizing on a precise pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Sociedad briefly equalized to 1-1 through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty in the 21st minute.

However, the Draw lasted only four minutes. Vinicius successfully converted a penalty in the 25th minute, followed by a goal from Federico Valverde in the 31st minute. The victory for Alvaro Arbeloa's squad was sealed by Vinicius' second penalty in the 48th minute.

This result takes Madrid to the top of the Standings with 60 points. In an increasingly tight title race, Yamal's penalty miss at Montilivi now feels like a crucial turning point in this season's battle for the LaLiga throne.