FCBarcelona.cat

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Saturday, 27 Sep
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: Olímpico Lluís Companys, Barcelona

Resultat:

RCD Espanyol: 1
FC Barcelona: 2

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

More info

The goals

1-0 Coro (min 20)
1-1 Henry (min 83)
1-2 Messi (min 100)

Barcelona win a heated derby (1-2)

Jordi Clos

A penalty from Lionel Messi in the 100th minute decided the outcome of a derby that had a little of everything. Pep Guardiola’s team went forward throughout and came from behind to win.

A controversial opening goal, a red card, a stoppage in play and a penalty in second half injury time; with all this and more, the derby was one of those games that will not be forgotten for a long time. Despite Barça’s domination and chances, it was Espanyol that took the lead in the 20th minute, with a disputed goal, and their only shot on target in the whole game. The visitors’ control intensified after Nené saw red just before the break and was rewarded with all three points thanks to a late, late goal from Messi after Henry had levelled matters.

A great start

Pep Guardiola named four surprise changes to his team with Gerard Piqué, Sergi Busquets, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Henry came in to replace Rafa Márquez, Touré Yaya, Seydou Keita and Samuel Eto’o. The Barça players came out and began strongly and found what space they could which saw them create three chances inside the opening 15 minutes. Iniesta and Henry went close in the tenth and eleventh minutes respectively before Xavi struck the crossbar soon after with a rasping drive.

Another unjust decision

Espanyol attempted to break up the play and find a way of relieving the pressure and they then took a surprise lead in the 20th minute with their first sortie into the Barça area. Tamudo sent the ball across the area, Piqué flicked it up on to his own bar and as Valdés went up he was nudged over by Luis García while on the floor Ferrán Corominas fired home from close range. It was another addition to some unjust decisions made in the past few games.

High voltage

The Espanyol goal only meant that Barça raised their game and increased the intensity of the derby. In the 36th minute, the Blaugrana had two good opportunities in quick succession when Alves played in Messi, his effort was saved by Kameni's legs and the ball flicked up the opposite post where Henry shot only for Pareja to head it off the line. It was just one more example of how Barça were dominating that attacking play.

Dominating the game

Before half-time there was still time for one last twist when Espanyol were reduced to ten men after Xavi had struck the ball just over from Iniesta’s cross. Nené jumped for a high ball and connected with Busquets. The referee believed that it was worth a yellow card and as the Espanyol player had already been booked he was sent for an early bath. Despite having a player more, there was still very little space and Guardiola introduced Eto’o after the break in place of Éric Abidal.

Temporary pause

The Cameroonian striker almost made an impression in the 62nd minute when his low shot looked goalbound only for his compatriot Kameni to make a fine save. Henry then controlled the ball and saw it cannon back off the near post. Tensions then rose off the pitch when flares came down from the upper tier of the stand where the Barcelona fans were situated. When a number of home supporters tried to enter the field of play, the referee opted to stop the game for a few minutes.

Deserved winner

Following a break of around ten minutes, the game started and Barça showed that they had not been unduly affected by drawing level. Kameni came to meet a high ball from Iniesta only to knock it against Jarque and Henry was in the right place at the right time to receive the rebound and roll in the equaliser. Barcelona deserved a winner after having 31 shots to Espanyol’s five and they were handed a chance to clinch victory when Eto’o was brought down in the area by Pareja. Messi stepped forward and steered home the spot-kick to give Barça all three points.

Preview

A draw last time out

Espanyol played Barça last season in the 14th round of matches on Montjuïc and the two sides shared a point after a 1-1 draw. Andés Iniesta put the Blaugrana ahead in the fifth minutes before Corominas levelled in the second half for the hosts. The most common scoreline between these two sides at Espanyol’s stadium is 1-1 ith 13 matches ending like that.

Saturday night fever

Roger Bogunyà

Espanyol and Barça will write a new chapter in their long sporting rivalry on Saturday evening (22:00, live on R@dio Barça) and the team that wins the derby on Montjuïc will take all three points and move into the Champions League places.

Local passions will rise when the two Ciutat Contal sides meet in what should be the last meeting between them at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys before the Blanc i Blau move to their new arena in Cornellà-El Prat. As well as garnering the points and local pride, the winner of the match will move into the top four in la Primera as they are currently locked on the same points.

Opposite starts

Both Espanyol and Barcelona go into the game on seven points each, with two victories, one draw and a defeat achieved by them so far this season. Espanyol made the best start to the new campaign of any team by winning their first two matches. Barça had the opposite fortune as they have won their last two matches, something that that Bartolomé Márquez’s side have been unable to do.

Without Cáceres

Pep Guardiola has opted to make few changes to the squad that beat Real Betis ( 3-2 ) in midweek as Barça go in search of their third consecutive victory. In fact the only change is that Pedro returns to the squad in place of Martín Cáceres, while Sylvinho and Víctor Sánchez are once again rested, with the latter returning to play for Barça Atlètic.

Home side absentees

For their part, Espanyol, go into the derby knowing that they will be without several important players. Finnan, Valdo, Rufete, Beranger, De la Peña and Torrejón are all absent due to varying injuries. Raúl Tamudo is back however and will return to the side after being left out of the squad that played against Sevilla in midweek.

Top of page

Back to top

FCBARCELONA.CAT

Main menu

Language menu

Section menu

Content menu

Content