Barcelona lost their top spot in La Liga last night, falling to Girona, who played with ten men—a surprising outcome.
Barcelona faced several setbacks, starting with Lamine Yamal missing a penalty in the first half. Although Pau Cubarsi scored to give Barcelona the lead in the 59th minute, Girona equalized just two minutes later.
Thomas Lemar scored for Girona in the 61st minute, and Fran Beltran netted the winner in the 86th minute. Joel Roca was sent off in the ninth minute of injury time after assisting Beltran.
Despite having familiar names like Lemar, Axel Witsel, and Daley Blind, Girona’s squad does not match up to Barcelona’s talent.
Barcelona boasts players like Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and United’s Marcus Rashford. Their strong roster is a key reason for their ongoing title defense.
However, such a talented lineup means some players may have to leave; Marc Casado has been identified as a possible candidate for transfer. According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona acknowledges they might need to sell him despite wanting to retain him and appreciating his commitment.
Casado came up through Barcelona’s youth system and filled in when de Jong was injured, but with de Jong back, Casado’s playing time has diminished.
Barcelona is reportedly open to offers for Casado this summer due to the competition in midfield. Although he wishes to stay at his boyhood club, his limited game time could attract teams like Manchester United, who need to strengthen their midfield.
With Casemiro likely leaving this summer and issues with Manuel Ugarte’s performance, United is interested in Casado, among other talented prospects.