Liga – FC Barcelona no longer stops and plays against Espanyol

FC Barcelona continues another victory. This Sunday, in the Catalan derby, Barça beat Espanyol (3-1), during the twelfth day of La Liga. At the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Dani Olmo scored twice (12th, 31st) while Raphinha also scored (23rd). At the end of the match, it was Javi Puado who saved the honor (63rd). In the Spanish championship standings, Hansi Flick’s men are provisionally nine points ahead, at the top, over their runner-up, Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. For his part, the promoted player remains 17th.

Since the start of this 2024-2025 La Liga season, FC Barcelona has already scored a total of 40 goals. This is the second best total in its history, at this same stage of the competition, after its 42 goals in 1950-51. Many Barcelona offensive players are capable of making the difference and this new meeting has, once again, proven it. The first to find the flaw was Dani Olmo. The Spanish international, who had already lit one of the first fuses of the game (10th), took advantage of a magnificent decisive pass from the outside of the left foot from Lamine Yamal, to launch his team (12th, 1- 0). Just after the half-hour mark, the midfielder then scored a double, with a slightly deflected shot from the edge of the area (31st, 3-0). The former RB Leipzig resident has now scored five goals in five La Liga matches.

In the meantime, it was Raphinha who made the break, taking advantage of a very good opening from Marc Casado to then anticipate the exit of Joan Garcia and score (23rd, 2-0). FC Barcelona are the only team with four different players having scored at least five goals in the five major European championships this season: Robert Lewandowski (14), Raphinha (7), Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo (5). If two of them managed to improve their finishing statistics, Robert Lewandowski (38th, 64th), and Lamine Yamal (9th, 68th), despite their efforts, remained silent. At the end of the match, entering the game, Fermin Lopez tried to join in the party (78th) while Ansu Fati’s goal was canceled for offside (90th + 3).

Offside is also an element that posed a problem for Espanyol, like other teams who have already faced Barça this season. The promoted saw two goals scored by Jofre (27th) and Alvaro Tejero (58th) be canceled by the VAR for this reason. Finally, by pushing, Manolo Gonzalez’s men were able to save the honor, through Javi Puado (63rd, 3-1). The Spanish striker had previously been the author of his team’s first shot on target (60th), while Jofre then also came up against Inaki Pena (87th).

Despite better offensive intentions after the break, Espanyol was never able to further worry an impressive FC Barcelona in the first act, then serene in the second, and who confiscated the ball (77% possession). It has now been six consecutive matches, in all competitions, that Barça has scored at least three goals. Red Star Belgrade, opponent of the Blaugrana, this Wednesday evening in the Champions League (9:00 p.m.), has been warned.