Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a gritty 2-0 victory over Espanyol in a fiercely contested Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium. It took inspiration from the bench to finally break the deadlock, with Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski striking late to stretch Barça’s lead at the summit to seven points.
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While the goals grabbed the headlines, goalkeeper Joan Garcia was just as influential on his return to haunt his former club, producing a series of outstanding saves. At the other end of the spectrum, Marcus Rashford endured a night to forget, struggling badly before being withdrawn at the interval.
The derby burst into life almost immediately, with Espanyol exploiting Barcelona’s high defensive line. Roberto Fernández raced through on goal early on, only to be denied by a sharp save from Garcia. Moments later, the former Espanyol keeper produced a bizarre yet effective sequence, palming the ball away before physically blocking Gerard Martín to deny Pere Milla in chaotic fashion.
Garcia’s standout moment came shortly after, somehow clawing Fernández’s powerful header over the bar when it looked destined for the top corner — a save worthy of winning any match on its own.
At the opposite end, Barcelona struggled to generate fluency. Marcus Rashford, starting on the left, looked completely out of sync with the tempo of the game, miscontrolling passes and breaking down promising moves. His substitution at half-time felt inevitable.
Hansi Flick’s response proved decisive. Introducing Fermín López, Dani Olmo, and later Robert Lewandowski transformed the match. López’s quick feet created space for Olmo to curl a superb effort into the top corner with four minutes remaining, before Lewandowski sealed the points moments later with a composed finish.
Barcelona Player Ratings
Goalkeeper & Defence
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Joan Garcia (8/10):
Subjected to constant abuse from the home supporters, but he thrived under pressure. Made multiple high-quality saves, including a sensational reflex stop from Fernández’s header. A crucial clean-sheet performance.
Jules Koundé (7/10):
Relentless defensively and disciplined throughout. Covered ground tirelessly and even threatened from a set-piece, forcing a solid save from Dmitrovic.
Pau Cubarsí (8/10):
Outstanding composure for his age. Read danger superbly and threw himself into challenges whenever required. One of Barcelona’s most reliable performers.
Gerard Martín (6/10):
Worked hard against constant runs in behind and endured a physically demanding evening. Involved in a comical collision with Garcia before being withdrawn just after the hour.
Alejandro Balde (6/10):
Faced sustained pressure down his flank but held his own. Defended diligently and coped well in a fast-paced, intense contest.
Midfield
Eric Garcia (7/10):
Should have scored from close range, but was denied by a heroic block. Aside from that, he was tidy and disciplined in midfield.
Frenkie de Jong (7/10):
Battled through a congested midfield with limited time on the ball. Nearly found the net but couldn’t quite get the decisive touch.
Attack
Lamine Yamal (6/10):
Constantly demanded possession and showed flashes of invention, but lacked his usual cutting edge in the final third.
Raphinha (5/10):
Below his usual influence. Had moments of neat build-up play but failed to test the goalkeeper. Substituted midway through the second half.
Marcus Rashford (4/10):
A disastrous outing. First touch deserted him, passes went astray, and he struggled to keep up with the tempo. Replaced at half-time to end a miserable night.
Ferran Torres (5/10):
Found little joy against a compact Espanyol defence. Starved of clear chances and made way for Lewandowski late on.
Substitutes & Manager
Fermín López (8/10):
A game-changer. His sharp turn and vision unlocked the defence for Olmo’s opener, and his powerful run helped create the second goal.
Dani Olmo (8/10):
Pure quality from the bench. His curling strike into the top corner was unstoppable and changed the entire momentum of the match.
Robert Lewandowski (8/10):
Clinical as ever. Needed just one chance, lifting the ball delicately to secure all three points late on.
Pedri (7/10):
Injected energy and control after coming on. Kept playing, moving, and helped Barcelona see the game out.
Hansi Flick (7/10):
Patience paid off. His substitutions on the hour decisively swung the match in Barcelona’s favour in a demanding derby.
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