Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and player Raphinha claim the club is judged by different standards after a 2-1 defeat to Girona saw them drop to second in LaLiga behind Real Madrid. Raphinha posted on social media that it's 'very complicated when the rules are different whether it's for you or against you,' following contentious decisions in both the Girona and Atlético Madrid matches. The loss, Barcelona's second in four days, came after a 7-minute VAR review that disallowed Pau Cubarsí's goal against Atlético for offside.

Girona's winner, scored by Fran Beltrán, was not awarded a free kick despite a foot-on-foot incident involving Claudio Echeverri and Jules Koundé. Barcelona filed a formal complaint with the RFEF and CTA, alleging inconsistency in disciplinary decisions, contradictory handball rulings, and a lack of transparency with VAR usage. Flick admitted there was a 'clear' foul before the Girona goal but accepted the result, giving his players two days off before facing Levante.

The 2-point gap between Barça and Madrid now puts significant pressure on the Catalan giants to regroup.