Substitute Ronald Araújo snatched Barcelona a vital 2-1 victory over Girona in stoppage time on Saturday, ending a mini losing streak ahead of the pivotal El Clásico clash with Real Madrid next week.
The dramatic winner came as the central defender slid in to skillfully redirect a low pass from Frenkie de Jong, igniting the home crowd.
Earlier, Pedri González had given Barcelona the lead with an exquisite 13th-minute goal before Axel Witsel equalized for Girona seven minutes later with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
The late drama was quickly followed by more trouble for Barcelona when coach Hansi Flick was sent off with two quick yellow cards, apparently for complaining that the referee had not added more than four minutes of injury time.
The sending off means Flick “won’t be on the sideline for the first clasico of the season.” The victory moves Barcelona into a temporary one-point lead over Madrid in the league standings.