What is the story about?
Barcelona
have taken a big step towards back-to-back La Liga titles thanks to a 4-1 win against Espanyol in Saturday’s Catalan Derby at Camp Nou, as the Blaugrana took advantage of Real Madrid’s slip-up on Friday and have increased the gap at the top to nine points with seven games to go. Barça dominated the first half and took a two-goal lead before things got tight in the final period for a while, before a late blitz sealed a seventh consecutive league win for the leaders and title favorites.
Reactions & Observations
- My first and more important observation: these retro graphics are SPECTACULAR and actually better than the current La Liga graphics.
- Espanyol came to Camp Nou to park the bus and try to steal a result, and an early goal is crucial against a team so defensive. And that’s what Barça got in the 10th minute, as a corner-kick from Lamine Yamal found the head of Ferran Torres, who scored his first goal in two and a half months to put the home team in front.
- Yamal recorded another assist 15 minutes later with an amazing Trivela through ball, which was finished beautifully by Ferran to further establish Barça’s dominance. Espanyol offered zero threat on the counter and were as physical as usual, committing a few rough fouls that led to yellow cards for the visitors.
- Barça couldn’t capitalize on their dominance with a third but created enough to find another, and Marko Dmitrovic made some important saves to keep Espanyol alive in the contest.
- The halftime whistle came to end an opening period dominated by Barça, who had a comfortable lead and were in full control. But they still needed a third to make sure of the win and allow Hansi Flick to make some changes to rest bodies for the second leg against Atlético Madrid.
- Barça made a sloppy start to the second half and paid for it, as Pol Lozano scored from the edge of the box to bring Espanyol back into the contest. The visitors’ goal came right after Barça had a goal disallowed for a very, very tight offside, which was still unclear even with the benefit of the semi-automated offside system.
- Espanyol’s goal changed Flick’s plans and the coach had to bring heavy-hitters from the bench such as João Cancelo and Marcus Rashford to try and ensure the victory. Rashford missed a huge chance with his first touch (or lack of it), while Cancelo almost scored a spectacular solo goal with a few of his own first touches, but the game was still undecided with 20 minutes to go.
- Barça had to wait until the very end to finally put the game out of bed, but a through ball from Marc Casadó released Yamal, who got to the ball before Dmitrovic, won it from the keeper, and passed it into an open net to kill off the contest.
- Just 90 seconds after that came another goal thanks to a wonderful through ball from Yamal to find Frenkie de Jong, who marked his return from injury with an incredible assist to Rashford who scored Barça’s fourth and turned the win into a rout.
- The final whistle came to end a match that Barça fully deserved to win, even if things got a little nervous after Espanyol’s goal. This was tight, physical and tough, but the better team won and Barça continue on the march to another league championship. Well done, boys!
