Barça vs Catalan Derby: Match Preview & Updates

FC Barcelona won on the lawn of Espanyol Barcelona this Saturday (2-0) in the Catalan derby.

For the resumption of La Liga, the Barcelona derby has long been undecided. Barça dominated the ball but lacked precision, like Ferran Torres, alone at the penalty spot in the 3rd minute. Espanyol, solid and technical, multiplied the opportunities and put the Blaugranas in difficulty, notably on a missed face-to-face by Roberto Fernandez in front of Joan Garcia.

At the break, Barça dominated territorially but failed to impose its rhythm, Rashford and Raphinha remaining discreet. Espanyol continued to hamper the Catalan defense at the start of the second half, with Jules Koundé and Joan Garcia forced to save several hot situations.

Barça saved at the last minute

When we returned from the locker room, the scenario remained the same. Koundé came close to opening the score from a corner, his header being pushed away by a vigilant Dmitrovic, before Joan Garcia saved his team again in front of Fernandez, forgotten in the middle. Espanyol even made Barça tremble with a free kick, Koundé having to clear in a hurry in front of his line to avoid an almost certain goal.

We had to wait until the end of the match to see Barça make the difference. In the 86th minute, Dani Olmo capsized his team with a splendid strike into the top corner, before Robert Lewandowski definitively sealed the fate of the derby in added time (2-0). A late but valuable success which allows FC Barcelona to consolidate its leading position ahead of Real Madrid.