Raphinha suggested Barcelona are treated differently by referees compared to other teams after a 2-1 defeat to Girona saw them cede control of the title race in LaLiga.

Fran Beltran scored an 86th-minute winner as Girona upset their more illustrious Catalan neighbours at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, leaving Real Madrid two points clear at the summit.

Hansi Flick’s team felt aggrieved that Beltran’s goal, which came after Pau Cubarsi and Thomas Lemar scored early in the second half, was not disallowed for an apparent foul in the build-up.

Cubarsi also had a goal disallowed following a lengthy VAR check last Thursday, when the Blaugrana were thrashed 4-0 by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie.

And Raphinha’s frustrations boiled over as he took to Instagram on Tuesday, writing in a post: “We have a lot to improve on, but not just us.

“It’s very complicated when the rules are different whether it’s for you or against you, but if we have to play against everyone to win, it’s okay… We’re going to do it.”

1 – Barcelona have lost a match in which they attempted at least 27 shots, including a penalty kick, for only the second time since the 2004/05 LaLiga season, following their defeat against Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in Oct 2015 (28 shots, 2-1 final). Obstacle pic.twitter.com/BRhstlYuy0

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 16, 2026

Barca were beaten despite attempting 27 shots, including a penalty, with Lamine Yamal striking the post from 12 yards in the first half. It is only the second time this has occurred in LaLiga since Opta records began in 2004-05 (also versus Sevilla in October 2015).

Following Monday’s defeat, Barca are no longer the Opta supercomputer’s favourites to win LaLiga, with their 43.7% probability falling behind Madrid’s 56.3%.