2023 La Liga's surprise contenders Girona beat Barcelona 4-2

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

Girona, the surprise contenders of the 2023 season of the Spanish La Liga, beat Barcelona 4-2 in a week 16 match on Sunday.

Girona’s Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk brought the lead to the visitors with a left-footed shot to the bottom left corner in the 12th minute at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Barca's veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski equalized the score with a header to the bottom corner in the 19th minute.

Spanish full-back Miguel Gutierrez's left-footed shot to the top corner brought the lead once again to Girona in the 40th minute.

Girona's Spanish full-back Valery Fernandez's good finish to the bottom corner added insult to injury for Barcelona and made it 3-1 in the 80th minute.

Barcelona's veteran German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan took one back for the hosts in the 92nd minute, but just three minutes later, Girona's Uruguayan veteran attacker Cristhian Stuani responded in kind.

Girona claimed the La Liga's top spot with 41 points as Real Madrid gained only one point to reach 39 points after a 1-1 draw with Real Betis.

Barcelona took a hit in their title run and placed fourth with 34 points.

Rayo Vallecano will take on Celta in a match on Monday.

- La Liga Results:

Getafe-Valencia: 1-0

Deportivo-Las Palmas: 0-1

Real Betis- Real Madrid: 1-1

Villarreal-Real Sociedad: 0-3

Mallorca-Sevilla: 1-0

Atletico Madrid-Almeria: 2-1

Granada-Athletic Bilbao: Suspended at 0-1

Cadiz-Osasuna: 1-1

Barcelona-Girona: 2-4