On Saturday afternoon, Barça B lost 1-2 to Catalan rivals Girona. The reserves looked like they had come back yet again for a draw with an equalising goal by Jonathan Soriano in the 93rd minute, only to allow another goal moments later before the final whistle sounded. Despite only gaining six points from the last eight games (with two losses and six draws), the B team remains in 6th place in the second division standings. Details of the match, including video of the goals, pictures from the match, and the coach’s post-match statements can be found below.

Line-up: 
Jordi Masip
Martín Montoya
Marc Bartra 
Andreu Fontàs
Abraham Minero 
Jonathan Dos Santos (Rafa Alcántara, 55′) 
Ilie Sánchez
Sergi Roberto
Saúl Berjón (Jonathan Soriano, 59′)
Rubén Rochina (Edu Oriol, 65′)
Nolito

Bench: Oier Olazábal, Armando Lozano, Carles Planas, Rafa Alcántara, Edu Oriol, Benja Martínez, Jonathan Soriano

Goals:
0-1 Tortolero, 71′
1-1 Jonathan Soriano, 93′
1-2 Despotovic, 95′

Referee: Pérez Montero

Cardsfor Barça: Abraham (70′), Nolito (89′)

Match Report(from Barça’s official site):

Barça B have lost to Girona at the Miniestadi, in a game in which Luis Enrique’s side struggled to find answers in attack and where they conceded a late goal just moments after they had equalised.

In the first game of 2011 at the Miniestadi, Barça B let their concentration slip in similar fashion to the last home game against Ponferradina. Girona, without an away win this season and followed by a thousand travelling supporters, struck twice, with the winner coming in the 95th minute from Despotovic. The second home defeat of the season means Barça B are winless in eight games. Rafa Alcántara made his second division debut.

Barça B had 66 % of the ball in the first half, but failed to turn that into chances, with Girona smothering each attempt despite being pegged in their own half for most of the first 45 minutes. Girona came close to springing a surprise in the 18th minute, with Kiko Ratón centering dangerously from a dead ball, but no visiting strikers were able to get on the end of it.

With president Sandro Rosell watching in the stands, Barça B finally produced their first real chances as the half drew to an end. Nolito collected the ball from Abraham and went on an individual run, but his shot lacked the required power. Rochina had a go from the edge of the area soon after, but Girona keeper Santamaria did his job well.

After the break, Girona started taking more initiative and the game was a more interesting affair in every department. Girona were the first to strike, but Marc Bartra brilliantly defended what looked like a killer pass into the box. The same player almost made it 1-0 from inside the area in the 65th minute, but Santamaria once again got in the way. And just six minutes after Barça should have taken the lead, Tortolero got on the end of a free kick to put Girona in command. 

Barça B needed to find an answer quickly, but only a Jonathan Soriano strike onto the crossbar came close to troubling the visiting defence. But just when it looked like all hope was lost, with three minutes of injury time already played, up stepped Soriano to make it 1-1 by getting on the right end of an Edu Oriol ball.

It was just a question of hanging on for a few more seconds, but then disaster struck for Barça B. Immediately from the restart Despotovic, who had just come on as a time-wasting tactic, took advantage of the umpteenth loss of Barça concentration to put his side back ahead. This time there was no coming back, and was a painful way to concede defeat to local rivals Girona. 

Post match comments from Luis Enrique:

“We played a great first half, being far superior to Girona, all the while taking possession of the ball against a great rival. What is certain is that we didn’t have many clear chances on goal due to bad decisions in the final third. 

“In the second half things evened out, the opponent had the a few chances to score and had more possession of the ball, but in any case I didn’t feel they were better than us … I am satisfied with my players, with the brutal effort they put in, I congratulate them. I think the just result would have been a victory or a draw [for us].

“It bothers me that we got back into the game in the 90th minute only to lose, but it’s not the first time that this has happened [referring to the matches against Ponferradina and Las Palmas] and it will serve as encouragement for us.

“I’m happy for my team, for the last eight games we’ve lost two and drawn six, but I’m not worried at all … I have no doubt that my team will improve their ability to score goals. And we have many things to improve defensively, but we are working to fix this.

“I was convinced [at the beginning of the season tha] there would be moments of up and down. Now is a bump. We’ll see when we can get out of this rut.

“Now we have to prepare for the match at Salamanca. Someone will have to pay the piper [for the defeat against Girona] and I hope that will happen this next matchday.”

The Goals:

A bonus video of some of the atmosphere provided by the Barça fans:

Pictures: