Barcelona took on Espanyol within the Catalan derby early on Sunday evening at Estadi Olimpic de Lluis Companys in a recreation that was nothing wanting a pageant for the Blaugrana.
Having made straightforward work of Bayern Munich and Actual Madrid of their final two video games, Hansi Flick’s males entered the sport in red-hot kind. Per week of relaxation solely intensified the hearth and made the staff extra prepared for the conflict.
It took simply twelve minutes for the hosts to take the lead by means of Dani Olmo earlier than Raphinha made it two for the staff within the twenty third minute.
The third purpose didn’t take lengthy to reach both, as Olmo accomplished his brace and prolonged the lead simply previous the half-hour mark. Espanyol, nonetheless, pulled one again within the 63rd minute.
Barça Common brings you the participant scores from Barcelona 3-0 Espanyol.
Inaki Pena: 7
Didn’t have an entire lot to do on the evening and was overwhelmed as soon as just for the play to be referred to as offside within the first half. Didn’t step off his line as he did in earlier video games and is conspicuously enhancing.
Allowed the ball into the online thrice within the second half, certainly one of which was a authorized purpose. Made an ideal 1v1 save to disclaim Puado near the hour mark.
Alejandro Balde: 7.5
Balde’s position beneath Hansi Flick has modified and the participant is now starting to shine within the area of interest handed to him.
The teenager was defensively stable as traditional however his burst of tempo and distribution within the ultimate third was as soon as once more good. Additional, he frequently regarded to invert to central positions as nicely, including entropy to Barcelona’s attacking play.
Switched off for Espanyol’s purpose and left Puado unmarked.
Inigo Martinez: 8.5
Martinez was stable defensively, seldom overwhelmed and all the time the primary participant to make sure the offside lure was performed to perfection. Even lined for Balde on the few events the teenager was caught in a sophisticated place.
Pau Cubarsi: 8.5
The teenager was dependable together with his studying of the sport and distribution and executed the defensive plan to perfection as soon as extra. Got here in with nice choice making even when the opponents have been on the break.
Hector Fort: 8
Stepping in as a alternative for Jules Kounde, Fort did a nice job defensively and was good together with his ahead progress. His mixture with Yamal was understandably not as sharp as Kounde’s, however he introduced much more to the buildup.
Marc Casado: 9
The definition of a warrior, Casado battled by means of Espanyol’s physicality to make sure Barcelona regained possession seconds after dropping it time and time once more. At one level, he took a volley to his groin and chest in a matter of seconds, but fought on.
Earned an outstanding help for Raphinha’s purpose, enjoying a ball excessive and taking all of Espanyol’s outfield gamers out of the equation.
Pedri: 8.5
Barcelona’s engine on the ball and workhorse off it, Pedri was once more sensational enjoying between the strains and dictating the tempo of the sport. His accuracy with distribution was off the charts and his mixture play with Yamal on the evening is now a cheat code.
Dani Olmo: 9.5
With each begin, Olmo simply proves how a lot of an asset he’s to this Barcelona aspect. The La Masia graduate created area together with his each contact, was flawless on the ball and created mayhem within the field together with his actions.
Opened the scoring with an ideal run and end to a Lamine Yamal help and accomplished his brace with a shocking strike from outdoors of the field.
Lamine Yamal: 9
It’s simply three months into the brand new season and there are already no adjectives left to explain the teenager on the sphere.
Yamal took the derby personally and was consistently trying to be the protagonist together with his intricate dribbles, by means of balls and mixture play. Racked up a sensational Trivela help for Olmo’s opener that any participant on the planet can be pleased with.
Raphinha: 8.5
The Brazilian didn’t see an excessive amount of of the ball within the opening minutes, however as soon as he acquired concerned, there was no turning again. Once more the orchestrator-in-chief within the ultimate third, he led Barcelona’s assault on the break and his work off the ball was off the charts.
Scored Barcelona’s second purpose on the evening with an exquisite lob over the goalkeeper, very like his purpose within the Clasico.
Robert Lewandowski: 7.5
The striker didn’t discover the again of the online on the evening however was sensational within the buildup section. Taking part in in a deeper place off the ball, he was instrumental in transitioning defence to assault together with his one-touch by means of balls.
Pulled off a sensational shot within the first half and tried to curve it into the nook, solely to be denied by Joan Garcia.
Frenkie de Jong: 7
Got here on early within the second half and did nicely as a part of the double pivot alongside Pedri. Nevertheless, the altered pivot association clearly had extra gaps than when Casado was concerned.
Fermin Lopez: 6.5
The teenager didn’t do a lot incorrect in his cameo however understandably was a downgrade to Dani Olmo in assault who was working on an entire new degree.