Barcelona prolonged their lead on the high of the La Liga desk to 9 factors with a 3-1 win over Espanyol on Sunday.
Dani Olmo netted twice in an electrical first-half show which additionally noticed Raphinha chip dwelling a purpose of his personal, wrapping up the three factors inside the primary half-hour.
Nonetheless, Espanyol undoubtedly had the higher of the second half. The guests deservedly pulled one again and noticed a handful of targets dominated out for offside, making certain no one left the sport with any actual sense of satisfaction.
How the sport unfolded
Olmo had two early possibilities to interrupt the impasse. The summer time signing first headed over after a cross from Hector Fort, earlier than sending a tame long-range effort rolling into the gloves of Joan Garcia.
Espanyol didn’t be taught from their early errors, nonetheless, as Olmo crashed dwelling 12 minutes in. A sensational go from Lamine Yamal was steered past Garcia through a spark off the woodwork, giving Barcelona a deserved lead.
The second got here ten minutes later and, unsurprisingly, it was the in-form Raphinha who wheeled away in celebration. His wonderful run into the field was discovered by Marc Casado and the Brazilian’s first-time chip over the onrushing Garcia was executed completely.
Towards the run of play, Espanyol thought they’d grabbed one again shortly after, however a VAR examine cancelled out Jofre Carreras’ tap-in for offside, and the guests’ robust day bought even worse when Olmo thundered dwelling from the sting of the penalty space on the half-hour mark to additional prolong Barcelona’s lead heading into the break.
Issues have been a bit of scrappier within the early phases of the second half, when Espanyol noticed one other purpose dominated out for offside after VAR intervention.
Espanyol lastly managed to beat the offside entice 63 minutes in when Javier Puado tapped in on the again submit – a purpose which had undoubtedly been coming as Barcelona took their collective foot off the fuel.
Yamal tried his luck from vary because the La Liga leaders seemed to regain management of proceedings, however his curling effort by no means seemed like inflicting any actual issues for Garcia.
Hansi Flick’s facet struggled to get again into their groove, resulting in numerous pissed off whistles from dwelling supporters. Espanyol noticed one other purpose dominated out, though there was no controversy about this one because the ball had clearly gone out of play within the build-up.
In fact, this was a fixture Barcelona by no means seemed like shedding, and the hosts even noticed a late purpose of their very own dominated out for offside, however Flick will undoubtedly be eager to remind his gamers of the perils of letting their ranges drop even when issues seem like going properly.
GK: Inaki Pena – 6/10 – A bystander earlier than needing to make a wise save on the hour mark.
RB: Hector Fort – 7/10 – Did not have a lot defending to do and so centered his efforts on dovetailing with Yamal in assault. Appeared to lose focus defensively after the break.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – 7/10 – His understanding of the offside entice continues to impress however the fixed dangers finally led to an Espanyol purpose.
CB: Inigo Martinez – 7/10 – Like with Cubarsi, the veteran flashed his expertise to steer Barcelona’s excessive line and maintain Espanyol pissed off.
LB: Alejandro Balde – 7/10 – Did not get all the things proper going forwards however fortuitously did not must as he was gifted probability after probability to make an affect. Grabbed the help for the third purpose.
DM: Marc Casado – 9/10 – Completely pulled the strings right here, together with a surprising go for Raphinha’s purpose. Such a dominant efficiency.
DM: Pedri – 7/10 – Saved issues ticking with out ever having to do something notably particular. Simply one other composed efficiency.
RM: Lamine Yamal – 8/10 – What a sensational help for Olmo’s opener. Tormented Espanyol’s defence with each his dribbling and his passing.
AM: Dani Olmo – 9/10 – The focus of each Barcelona assault. The ball appeared to gravitate in direction of him and that led to 2 first-half targets.
LM: Raphinha – 7/10 – Not at his world-beating greatest however was as soon as once more simply too good for his opponents. A pleasant end to double Barcelona’s early lead.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – 6/10 – Most of Barcelona’s greatest work got here behind him, however the Poland worldwide’s power and motion helped contribute to an electrical staff show. Some wonderful defensive work.
Substitutes
SUB: Fermin Lopez (56′ for Olmo) – 5/10
SUB: Frenkie de Jong (56′ for Casado) – 5/10
SUB: Jules Kounde (78′ for Fort) – 6/10
SUB: Ansu Fati (85′ for Raphinha) – N/A
SUB: Gavi (85′ for Pedri) – N/A
Subs not used: Wojciech Szczesny (GK), Ander Astralaga (GK), Pablo Torre, Pau Victor, Gerard Martin, Sergi Dominguez.
Supervisor
Hansi Flick – 7/10 – Made some daring tactical adjustments which undoubtedly yielded rewards, however the boss is not going to be proud of the style wherein his facet eased up within the second half.
