Dani Olmo scored twice to lead the Blaugrana to a convincing 3-1 victory over local rivals Espanyol in Sunday’s heated derby clash at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The win helped maintain Barcelona’s position at the top of La Liga under manager Hansi Flick’s guidance.
The match showcased Barcelona’s devastating attacking capabilities, particularly in a first-half display that left their city rivals struggling to cope with their movement and creativity. The attacking trio of Olmo, Raphinha, and the prodigious 17-year-old Lamine Yamal proved too much for Espanyol’s defense to handle.
The breakthrough came in the 12th minute through a moment of brilliance from teenage sensation Yamal, who continues to justify the hype surrounding his emergence. The young winger carved open the Espanyol defense with an exquisite outside-of-the-boot pass that found Olmo in space. The Spanish international demonstrated his clinical finishing ability, striking first-time past goalkeeper Joan Garcia to give Barcelona the lead.
Barcelona’s dominance continued, and eleven minutes later, they doubled their advantage through Raphinha. The Brazilian, who has been in impressive form lately, showed both skill and bravery when he latched onto Marc Casado’s perfectly weighted pass over the Espanyol backline. In a decisive moment, Raphinha won the race against the onrushing Garcia and executed a delicate chip over the goalkeeper, further extending Barcelona’s lead.
The first half belonged entirely to the hosts, with Olmo putting the finishing touches on a spectacular opening period by adding his second and Barcelona’s third with a magnificent strike from distance. The summer signing’s performance epitomized Barcelona’s attacking fluidity, with his intelligent movement between the lines consistently causing problems for Espanyol’s midfield and defensive units.
However, the second half revealed some vulnerabilities in Barcelona’s approach, particularly with their high defensive line. Espanyol managed to breach Barcelona’s defense multiple times, having the ball in the net on four occasions, though two were correctly ruled out for marginal offside decisions. The visitors’ persistence eventually paid off when Javi Puado exposed Barcelona’s high line to pull a goal back, highlighting an area of concern for Flick’s team.
In midfield, Marc Casado put in a commanding performance during his hour-long appearance, controlling the tempo and showing both technical ability and physical presence. His partnership with Pedri provided the foundation for Barcelona’s attacking prowess, though the team’s control diminished somewhat after his substitution for Frenkie de Jong.
The match also showcased the continuing evolution of Yamal, who tormented Espanyol’s Carlos Romero throughout the game. The youngster’s assist for the opening goal demonstrated maturity beyond his years, adding to his growing reputation as one of football’s most exciting prospects.
While Robert Lewandowski may not have found himself on the scoresheet, the Polish striker’s selfless running and positioning created space for his fellow attackers to exploit. Raphinha, too, continued his rich vein of form with another goal, while his work rate off the ball exemplified Barcelona’s pressing game.
Defensively, young center-back Pau Cubarsi stood out with another assured display, highlighted by a crucial goal-saving challenge on Kral early in the second half. However, left-back Alejandro Balde had a more challenging afternoon, being caught out of position several times and losing his marker for Espanyol’s consolation goal.
The victory maintains Barcelona’s momentum in La Liga, though Flick will be keen to address the defensive issues that emerged in the second half, particularly with a crucial Champions League fixture against FK Crvena Zvezda looming on November 6th. The manager’s substitutions, including the introductions of Fermin Lopez, Jules Kounde, and Gavi, helped see out the game, though they couldn’t maintain the same level of control established in the first half.
This derby triumph not only secured three valuable points but also demonstrated the depth of talent at Barcelona’s disposal. The blend of experienced professionals like Lewandowski and emerging talents such as Yamal and Cubarsi suggests a bright future for the Catalan giants. However, the second-half performance indicates there’s still room for improvement as they look to maintain their position at the summit of La Liga.
As Barcelona prepare for their upcoming Champions League encounter, Flick will take heart from his team’s attacking display while knowing that maintaining such high standards throughout the full ninety minutes will be crucial for their ambitions both domestically and in Europe.
