Barcelona 3-1 Espanyol: Barca move nine points clear with derby victory

Barcelona made it six wins from six and extended their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points with a comfortable victory over Catalan rivals Espanyol at their temporary home, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Dani Olmo opened the scoring after 12 minutes, clinically finishing off a smart Barcelona move. Captain Raphinha doubled their lead shortly after with a clever dink over the ‘keeper.

Espanyol had the ball in the back of the net but VAR called it back for offside – and seconds later Olmo hit them with a third to make it 3-0 at half time.

Hansi Flick will be disappointed with Barca’s second-half dip. Espanyol pulled one back with a neat finish from Javi Puado and remarkably had two more chalked off, before Ansu Fati also had an injury-time effort ruled out for offside.

Barcelona’s fourth consecutive win, and 11th win in 12th, puts them in a commanding position in the league. The 27-time Spanish champions face two road trips before the international break – first heading to Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League, before returning to the league at Real Sociedad.

It is six defeats in seven for Manolo Gonzalez’s Espanyol, who will be fearing another relegation battle, having only just returned to the top flight through last season’s Segunda Division playoffs. Next up in the league they face fellow strugglers Valencia in a huge game at the bottom.

Even before this match Barcelona’s position at the top of the table was looking good.

Having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 away in El Clasico last weekend, Flick’s men had opened up a six-point lead at the top of the table.

That lead of six has now become a lead of nine as the Catalan side have racked up 11 wins from 12 matches.

Despite defensive frailties they are able to blast opponents out of sight, with an attacking threat – led by 17-goal Robert Lewandowski – that has now been bolstered by the return of Gavi and Fati.

They will head into the international break with away ties at Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League and Real Sociedad in the league they will be confidant of winning.

Dani Olmo (Barcelona): It was an imperious performance by the Barcelona midfielder, who was at the heart of everything until his substitution early in the second half. He fired a couple of warning signs before he opened the scoring in the 12th minute, sweeping home a low cross from Yamal. On the half-hour mark he doubled his tally with a thunderous long-range effort. An unstoppable goal for an unstoppable performance. He almost capped things off with a hat-trick early in the second half, before Flick deemed him too valuable to risk, with one eye on a Champions League match in midweek.

BARCELONA: Pena 6, Balde 7, Cubarsi 7, Martinez 7, Fort 7, Pedri 8, Casado 8, Raphinha 8, Olmo 9, Yamal 8, Lewandowski 7. Subs: Lopez 6, de Jong 6, Kounde 6, Fati 6.

ESPANYOL: Garcia 6, Romero 5, Cabrera 6, Kumbulla 5, Hilali 6, Aguado 6, Bauza 6, Kral 6, Tejero 6, Carreras 7, Puado 6. Subs: Gomez 5, Smith 5, Cheddira 5, Unuvar 5, Olivan 5.

12 ‘ – GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol (Olmo): It’s been coming and it could only be Olmo. Yamal sweeps a brilliant ball into the box and Olmo flicks it past Garcia at the near past from six yards. He made it look easy.

23’ – GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol (Raphinha): Barca double their lead. A beautiful ball into the centre of the box by Casado and Raphinha nips in front of the advancing Garcia to prod it into the net.

27’ –DISALLOWED GOAL FOR ESPANYOL: Espanyol have the ball in the net courtesy of a clinical finish from Carreras after a fast-paced break. A VAR check deems there was an offside in the build-up.

31’ – GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Espanyol (Olmo): And just like that it’s 3-0. It’s Olmo again. He collects the ball on the edge of the area after some slick passing and unleashes a thunderbolt that takes a slight but decisive deflection into the net.

58’ – DISALLOWED GOAL: Another disallowed goal for Espanyol. Another one for offside.This time it’s Tejero who has his scrambled effort chalked off.The away side must hate VAR.

63’ – GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Espanyol (Puado): There’s another VAR check – but this time it counts! Romero crosses for Puado who stabs the ball home from six yards. It’s been coming.

72’ – A HAT-TRICK OF DISALLOWED GOALS: Espanyol have a third goal chalked off. This time the ball had gone out of play before it was crossed in. Remarkable!

90+3’ –DISALLOWED GOAL: Fati races clear and drill the ball low into the corner of the net. The flag goes straight up – this one clearly offside.