Girona midfielder laments missed opportunities in defeat to Barcelona – ‘We’re leaving hurt’

Girona left Montjuïc with a sense of both pride and frustration after their 1-2 loss to Barcelona. 

Midfielder Axel Witsel was one of the most prominent voices after the match, having scored a stunning overhead kick that briefly brought hope to the visiting side. 

Despite his spectacular strike, the Belgian admitted the disappointment of falling short. Reflecting on the game, Witsel said, 

“We’re leaving hurt. We played a great game, but against Barça you have to kill the game off when the opportunities arise, and we had plenty of chances to take the lead.” 

Praising Girona’s character

The Belgian, who stood out for his all-around performance, praised Girona’s ability to challenge one of La Liga’s strongest sides. 

“Conceding a goal like that is very tough mentally, but we have to take away from this first half. 

Axel Witsel scored a fantastic goal against Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“We were able to get out of Barça’s pressure and get behind them, so I’ll take away from the spectacular work of the whole team,” Witsel explained.

He also reflected on his acrobatic goal, a moment of brilliance in an otherwise frustrating night. 

“I haven’t seen the goal yet, but I’ve scored a few like that in my career before. Still, it’s a shame because we missed out on the point anyway,” he admitted, showing his disappointment that the team couldn’t capitalise on the effort.

Beyond individual performances, the match illustrated Barcelona’s never-give-up attitude. 

Even when Girona applied pressure, the Catalans remained focused, displaying the character and tactical intelligence that coach Hansi Flick has instilled this season.

While Girona can be proud of their effort, it was Barcelona’s ability to capitalise on key moments that reinforced why the Blaugrana remain among La Liga’s most formidable sides.

Source: Mundo Deportivo