Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol — La Liga Matchday 31, Spotify Camp Nou
Barcelona answered Wednesday's Champions League pain with a statement derby performance. Ferran Torres scored twice in the first half, Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford wrapped it up late, and despite a nervy spell after Pol Lozano halved the deficit, Barca ran out 4-1 winners against Espanyol to open up a nine-point lead over Real Madrid. With seven games remaining, the title is now firmly in their hands.
FORMATIONS AND LINEUPS
Barcelona lined up in a 4-3-3. Joan Garcia in goal. The back four was Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and Alejandro Balde. Eric Garcia, Pedri and Gavi formed the midfield three. Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez led the attack. It was notable rotation after the Atletico defeat — no Rashford in the starting XI, no Cancelo, and De Jong was on the bench after six weeks out injured.
Espanyol lined up in a 4-4-2. Dmitrovic in goal. The back four was El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera and Carlos Romero. Lozano, Urko Gonzalez, Edu Exposito and Tyrhys Dolan across the midfield. Cyril Ngonge and Kike Garcia as the strike partnership.
FIRST HALF — FERRAN TORRES ENDS HIS DROUGHT
The opening was exactly what Barca needed. Energy, purpose, and an early goal. In the 10th minute Lamine Yamal whipped a corner to the back post and Ferran Torres, arriving late, headed home cleanly. It was Torres's first goal since January — a drought he had been desperate to end, and a header that drew a roar from the 60,736 inside the Camp Nou.
The second followed 15 minutes later. Same combination, same result in a different way. Yamal picked the ball up wide and fed Torres on the overlap with the outside of his boot. Torres took one touch and clipped it first time past the onrushing Dmitrovic. 2-0. Two goals, two Yamal assists in the opening 25 minutes. At that point it looked comfortable.
Barca pushed for a third before the break. Fermin forced a fine save from Dmitrovic after a burst into the box. Yamal danced past two defenders and curled an effort over. The crowd was on its feet. Gerard Martin was forced off with an injury just before half-time, replaced by Marc Casado.
SECOND HALF — LOZANO SCARE, THEN BARCA KILL IT
The second half began with a jolt. A Ferran Torres third was ruled out by VAR — Eric Garcia was millimetres offside in the build-up. Then, almost immediately on the counter, Pol Lozano collected a loose ball from the edge of the area, drove onto his right foot and fired a crisp, powerful strike past Joan Garcia. 2-1. Camp Nou went quiet. The game was suddenly alive.
Flick responded at the hour mark — Balde and Gavi off, Cancelo and Rashford on. The fresh energy was immediate. Rashford ran in behind Espanyol's high line, forced a one-on-one with Dmitrovic, but delayed in the finish and the keeper saved. Cancelo cut in and drilled a low shot straight at Dmitrovic.
Espanyol kept threatening. Lozano was dangerous throughout the second half and Fernandez was inches from connecting with a low cross that would have levelled. Barcelona's defending was shaky at times and the crowd sensed it.
But the two late goals killed the game. In the 84th minute Flick sent on Frenkie de Jong for his first appearance since late February — a moment that brought warm applause from the crowd. Within minutes De Jong had produced a perfectly weighted through pass into the channel. Casado played Yamal in behind, the keeper came out and Yamal, cool as ever, tapped into an empty net. 3-1. Two minutes later, De Jong found Rashford at the far post with a searching diagonal and the Englishman finished acrobatically. 4-1. Game over. Title nearly won.
YAMAL'S MILESTONE AND THE TITLE PICTURE
This was Yamal's 100th La Liga appearance. He marked it with two assists and a goal — his 15th in La Liga this season. At 18 years old. The Camp Nou stood and applauded him off when he was substituted.
More importantly, Real Madrid drew at home with Girona on Friday evening — failing to win means Barcelona's victory today opens the gap to nine points with seven games remaining. Thirty-six points are still available to both sides but Barca need only four wins from their remaining seven games to be crowned champions regardless of what Madrid do. The title is theirs to lose.
De Jong's return is timely. He has been out since the end of February with a muscle injury and will be a significant addition for the UCL second leg against Atletico at the Metropolitano on Tuesday.
