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5-0: Without options
Espanyol looses the fourth derby of the season against Barcelona
Espanyol wasn’t able to obtain a good result in the derby against Barcelona. Messi scored soon and the team managed by Constantin Galca didn’t have many options despite they got to the half time with only one against. In the second half the locals didn’t give any option to the white and blue team that received four goals.
The match didn’t start very well for Espanyol. Messi took advantage of a rigorous fault of Víctor Álvarez to score the first goal of the match. Pau López was close to stop the ball but it finally got in. Barcelona was on possession of the match and the white and blue team had to do a big effort not to receive another goal. Galca’s players had difficulties to connect god passes and they lost the ball too fast. However, Espanyol was able to defend with order and show their strength. Barça only scared in a few free kicks near the box that didn’t go between the three posts.
As the minutes passed, the visitors started to level the match and Caicedo had Espanyol’s first opportunity with a cross shot that Ter Stegen blocked without much trouble. Víctor Álvarez and Diop had a double chance after a free kick but Diop’s header wasn’t very good. After all, Espanyol was able to arrive to the half time with only one goal against.
The second half started with a substitution: Gerard went in for Caicedo, who was fouled a few times by Macherano in the first half despite the referee didn’t book him. Therefore the beginning of the second half was similar to what we saw in the early minutes of the match as Luis Suárez knocked in the net a good pass from Messi. Espanyol’s hopes finished a few minutes later when Suárez, after pushing Javi López in the box, scored the third.
It was really difficult for Espanyol to get a good result with such difference in the scoreboard. Gerard and Víctor Sánchez tried to combine in a good attack but the midfielder wasn’t able to connect the ball. Unlucky was also Pau when he lost a ball that Rafinha didn’t miss to add another goal for the locals. Neymar in the last minutes of the match socred the fifth for Barcelona.