The Catalan derby ends 1-1: Joselu responds to Marcos Alonso. Villarreal comeback 2-1 Valencia, Real Sociedad beat Osasuna
2022 into Liga ends with a draw in the Catalan derby between Barcelona and Espanyol. At the Camp Nou it ends 1-1, with Joselu from a penalty (73′) who takes over Xavi’s formation that took the lead through Marcos Alonso (7′). Collapse the Valencia, beaten 2-1 by Villarreal: Cavani (21′) deceives Gattuso, but Chukwueze (45′) and Foyth (89′) come back for the Pipistrelli. At the Anoeta, Real Sociedad beat Osasuna 2-0: Mendes (22′) and Sorloth (64′) decide.
BARCELLONA-ESPANYOL 1-1
Barcelona hold back in the derby with Espanyol and now share the top of the La Liga standings with Real Madrid, both on 38 points. Ready to go and Barcelona took the lead after seven minutes through Marcos Alonso, who sent in Christensen’s extended header from a corner. It was the Blaugrana who made the match and again Marcos Alonso came close to doubling the lead in the 19th minute, while in the 24th minute it was Raphinha who came close to making it 2-0. In the second half, the music didn’t change, after five minutes Sergi Roberto almost headed the post, in the 55th minute it was Lewandowski’s turn but the Pole didn’t finish. Many opportunities wasted by Xavi’s men and then in the 72nd minute it was Espanyol who surprisingly struck: a penalty for the guests and Joselu signed the unexpected 1-1. A bolt from the blue, the match becomes very nervous and Lahoz extracts two reds in the space of five minutes, one on each side: first to Jordi Alba in the 78th minute for a double yellow card in a few seconds, then to Vinicius Souza for a hold in midfield . Tense nerves, the referee also expels Cabrera except to retrace his steps thanks to the Var, Barcelona tries the final assault but the result does not change after more than 10′ of recovery.
VILLARREAL-VALENCIA 2-1
At the Estadio de la Ceramica, the comeback in the final rewarded Villarreal, who beat Gennaro Gattuso’s Valencia 2-1. The Pipistrelli took the lead: Lino shot and Reina saved, but he sprinted on the ball Cavani who, with his left foot, puts the 0-1 on goal. The Yellow Submarine equalized right at the end of the first half: Moreno’s counterattack serving Chukwueze, who made no mistakes only in front of Mamardashvili. It seems over, but just before the long recovery, precisely in the 89th minute, the comeback of the hosts is completed: Parejo’s corner, Mamardashvili miscalculates the exit and Foyth, with a header, doesn’t forgive. Valencia tries in the final, but it is Villarreal who come close to scoring with Capoue’s post. However, it ends 2-1: the yellow submarine rises to 24 points and remains attached to the train of Europe, while Gattuso remains at an altitude of 19 together with Mallorca.
ROYAL SOCIETY-OSASUNA 2-0
At the Anoeta, Real Sociedad beat Osasuna 2-0 and regained third place from Atletico Madrid. The challenge was unlocked in the 22nd minute thanks to Mendes, who received from Kubo, overtook Cruz with a feint and in a fall with his left foot he scored. In the second half, the author of the goal contributes to the 2-0 by closing the games and serving the assist for Sorloth to double: the Norwegian receives the through ball and with a delicate touch below Aitor Fernandez. In the 81st minute, Sorloth again missed the set from a few steps away, but Real Sociedad did not risk in the final and won 2-0, climbing to 29 and welcoming Oyarzabal back nine months after the injury. Second knockout in a row, however, for Osasuna, which remains at 23.
