Barcelona continued their reign at the top of LaLiga with a commanding 3-1 win over Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Sunday, fueled by a first-half double from Dani Olmo and a strike from Raphinha. The victory extends Barcelona’s unbeaten streak over their local rivals to 27 games and pushes them nine points clear of Real Madrid, who had their match postponed due to severe flooding in Valencia.
Espanyol, now sitting precariously in 17th place, a point above the relegation zone, fought hard but saw two potential goals disallowed by VAR for narrow offsides, dampening their hopes for a comeback.
Coming off a resounding 4-0 win over Real Madrid last weekend, Barcelona kept up their strong momentum. Dani Olmo, who has been in exceptional form, emphasized the team’s focus on securing each victory: “We’re taking it one step at a time. Espanyol wasn’t going to hand us anything, but we got the three points – mission accomplished.”
Olmo’s clinical finishing was complemented by Barcelona’s creative play, with the team’s attack thriving thanks to a blend of youth and experience. 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal set up Olmo’s opening goal with a stunning outside-of-the-boot pass, showcasing the skill and depth in Barça’s lineup.
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Barcelona controlled possession from the start, nearly scoring within minutes as Olmo’s header narrowly missed the mark. Moments later, Yamal’s skillful assist found Olmo, who slotted home the opening goal with ease. Raphinha then added to Barcelona’s lead with a brilliant chip after receiving a perfectly lobbed pass from Marc Casado.
Espanyol believed they had pulled one back when Jofre Carreras scored on a counter-attack, only for VAR to intervene, ruling out the goal for a marginal offside. Olmo then struck again, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to secure his fifth LaLiga goal of the season.
With Barcelona dominating both possession and chances, their victory further solidifies their title ambitions. As the Catalan giants pull further ahead in LaLiga, they demonstrate the depth, resilience, and tactical prowess that have kept them unbeaten in derby clashes with Espanyol for over a decade.
Barcelona’s next challenge will be to maintain this winning form and keep the pressure on their rivals as they inch closer to another potential LaLiga title.
