It was derby time in Barcelona on Sunday evening. With a furious ending, as Barça rescued a point at Espanyol with the last action of the game.
FC Barcelona started in the derby with almost the same eleven as in the 4:2 against Atletico, only Dest replaced the suspended Dani Alves. This meant that Aubameyang and Dembelé initially only had a place on the bench. And the two ex-Dortmunders immediately saw something that must have pleased them very much: Jordi Alba’s cross from the left side landed on the right in the penalty area with Pedri, who gave Barça the lead in the second minute.
Espanyol without ideas – and then comes Darder
This was of course the dream start for the favourites, who from then on tried to control the game. Defensively, the Blaugrana allowed nothing, defended very well. There was a lot of fire in the game, the spectators heated up the match. However, there was little to see in terms of chances, Traoré fired a volley in the direction of Diego Lopez, but the keeper was on his toes (38th). Espanyol struggled offensively and had almost no ideas. But the home side had a flash of inspiration just before the break: Darder was given too much space just outside the penalty area and put the ball in from 18 metres with great shooting technique down the right to make it 1-1 at the break (40th).
De Tomas takes advantage of Garcia’s mistake
After the break, the visitors again got off to the better start, Gavi supposedly putting the favourites ahead (56th). But his goal was reviewed and conceded as Frenkie de Jong was offside in the making. It was a bitter few minutes for Barça, because after the disallowed goal, the Blaugrana conceded a goal at the back: After Garcia’s bad positional error, de Tomas was free through, and the goal scorer didn’t let it go and scored his 13th goal of the season (64th).
Hectic final phase with three reds – and Luuk de Jong!
The underdogs were well on their way to upsetting the favourites. The hosts didn’t let anything happen until late in the final phase. Substitute Luuk de Jong, however, brought more momentum into Barça’s attacking play, but his header in the first minutes of stoppage time went over. Then it became colourful as Espanyol’s Nico fouled Piqué, saw yellow for it, then clashed with the defensive man, after which both were sent off with yellow and red (90.+3).
It was hectic, the visitors threw everything forward – and were actually rewarded: In the last action of the game, Traoré found Luuk de Jong, who nodded in the late equaliser, much celebrated by the visitors (90.+6). What a finish to this game – in which Espanyol’s Manu Morlanes even saw a straight red. He had – presumably directly after the goal – complained too much.
