A Catalan derby to start the new year, and at a venue where the game and atmosphere are always eventful!
Lamine Yamal’s rocket, Espanyol ultras storming the pitch after Barca won the title there, Gerard
Pique getting pelters for calling them Espanyol de Cornella, and more… there’s generally something to keep the headline writers happy.
Ahead of the game, the hosts will have fancied their chances for once, given how well they’ve been playing under Manolo Gonzalez.
Los Periquitos were looking for a first league win in the fixture since 2009, whilst Hansi Flick’s side were hoping to earn the three points to keep them seven ahead of Real Madrid (temporarily), heading into the Spanish Super Cup.
Joan Garcia’s return to the RCDE Stadium was always going to be eventful, and how he dealt with the expected barrage from the terraces – to include rats being thrown at him – was likely to partly influence the outcome.
Let’s take a look at three talking points that ultimately did influence the result…
Sensational performance from Joan Garcia
As it turned out, there were no rats sent anywhere near Joan Garcia’s direction, but the level of hostility towards the keeper every time he touched the ball was something to behold.
To his absolute credit, he didn’t allow that to affect his natural game. He stood tall as Roberto Fernandez bore down on goal, and his incredible point-blank save from Pere Milla’s towering header was the moment of the match to that point.
Another save in the second half, as Fernandez attempted to take the ball around him, was simply sensational.
His confidence and application will have filtered through to his back four and showed exactly the type of character that Barca have in between the sticks.
The man for the big occasion, without a doubt.
Olmo, Lewandowski and Fermin make the difference
With Espanyol in great form too, this was always going to be a difficult assignment for Barca, even if they hadn’t lost at the ground since Los Periquitos moved there.
It was a game that the visitors had to come correct, and be at it from first until last.
In practice, what that meant is that the attacking three, more than anyone else, had to be on the front foot throughout, giving an expected low-block defence a torrid time at every possible opportunity.
Unfortunately for Hansi Flick, Ferran Torres was off colour, Marcus Rashford was having one of those games where he blows hot and cold, Raphinha didn’t really get going, and for all of Lamine Yamal’s efforts, he never really got a clear sight of goal.
It’s a little disappointing that there couldn’t have been just a bit more effort at times, so thank God for Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez.
The former’s ‘right on time’ celebration has rarely been more appropriate.
100 up for Eric Garcia and another solid showing
A great game for Eric Garcia to celebrate becoming a La Liga centurion for Barcelona.
As we’ve come to expect from the club’s utility man, he provided another solid showing in both midfield and, as Barca chased the game and put on a number of subs, in defence.
Not to mention his commitment in the tackle, shown once again when risking serious injury, and his ability to provide a supplementary attacking presence.
What a shame that he couldn’t find the net as Dmitrovic flung himself full-length to deny Eric from a couple of yards out.
