Barcelona defeats Espanyol after El Clasico triumph

Barcelona's momentum in La Liga continues to be unstoppable. Just a week after their impressive victory in El Clásico, the Catalan giants secured another commanding win, this time defeating city rivals Espanyol 3-1. The star of the match was Dani Olmo, whose clinical finishing set the tone for the league leaders.

Dominance without key players

Coach Hansi Flick opted to rest Frenkie de Jong, mindful of preserving the midfielder who recently returned from injury. Fermín López was also kept on the bench for most of the match. From the sidelines, they witnessed Barcelona's relentless display of dominance. Coming off their emphatic performance against Real Madrid, Barcelona showed once again why they are at the top of the table.

Olmo's impactful performance

Dani Olmo proved to be the driving force behind Barcelona’s attack. The Spanish international showcased his sharp shooting by scoring twice in the first half. His efficiency in front of goal has been remarkable, with five goals from his last seven shots on target. Raphinha also added his name to the scoresheet with a well-taken goal, taking his tally for the season to seven, surpassing his total from last season.

Espanyol’s response

Espanyol found some relief after the break, scoring a goal through Javi Puado shortly after Frenkie de Jong entered the game, ten minutes into the second half. This goal came after Espanyol had two previous efforts ruled out by VAR. Despite their efforts, this lone goal was all they could muster, as Barcelona’s defense held firm for the remainder of the match.

Looking ahead

With this victory, Barcelona maintains their stronghold on the La Liga standings and shifts their focus to the upcoming Champions League clash against Red Star Belgrade. The midweek fixture will take place in the Serbian capital on Wednesday at 9:00 PM. Barcelona, buoyed by their current form, will look to carry this momentum into their European campaign.