Barcelona Dominates Espanyol, Extends La Liga Lead to Nine Points

Barcelona Dominates Espanyol, Extends La Liga Lead to Nine Points
By: Shante from statstriker.com

La Liga leaders Barcelona maintained their impressive early-season form under Hansi Flick, easily defeating city rivals Espanyol and extending their lead over Real Madrid to nine points.

Following their recent El Clasico victory, Barcelona showcased dazzling attacking play, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal once again standing out.

He delivered a beautiful cross using the outside of his foot, which Dani Olmo converted off the crossbar for the opener in the 12th minute.

Marc Casado then set up Raphinha with a perfectly timed ball behind the Espanyol defense, allowing the captain to clip it home just 11 minutes later.

Barcelona's high defensive line created some tension, with Espanyol having two goals disallowed for narrow offside calls.

One of these came when full-back Omar el Hilali assisted Jofre Carreras, only for VAR to rule it out.

Moments later, Olmo added his second with a powerful strike from the edge of the area, making it 3-0.

Early in the second half, Alvaro Tejero also had a goal disallowed for offside.

However, Espanyol's captain Javi Puado managed to pull one back in the 63rd minute, sweeping in at the far post.

Despite a stronger showing from Espanyol in the latter stages, they were largely outplayed, continuing their dismal derby record against Barcelona.

They have now gone 27 consecutive derbies without a win and lost six of their last seven La Liga matches.

Under Flick, Barcelona has won 11 of their 12 league games, and since their only defeat to Osasuna in late September, they've secured six straight victories across all competitions, netting 24 goals.

They will look to extend this remarkable run when they face Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, third-placed Atletico Madrid defeated Las Palmas 2-0, narrowing the gap to Real Madrid in the standings.