Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol: Torres 9, 25, Yamal 87, Rashford 89; Lozano 56
Barcelona took full advantage of Real Madrid’s Friday slip-up by thrashing local rivals Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday to open up a potentially decisive nine-point lead at the top of La Liga.
Ferran Torres recovered his scoring boots, finding the net twice inside the opening 25 minutes after failing to score in his previous 15 games. Yamal was also in his stride. On his 100th league appearance, the 18-year-old delivered two pinpoint assists before the break and added a late goal of his own.
Marcus Rashford completed the scoring in stoppage time as Barcelona bounced back from midweek Champions League heartbreak.
Just three days after their 2-0 quarterfinal first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid, Hansi Flick rang the changes. Frenkie de Jong returned to the bench following a hamstring issue, while Ronald Araujo, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Torres all came into the starting XI.
The hosts needed just nine minutes to break through. Yamal’s corner found Torres at the far post, and the Spain forward powered in a header. Espanyol’s protests were in vain as replays showed that goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic had collided with his own man and fallen. The goal stood.
Torres struck again in the 25th minute, slotting calmly into the far corner after racing onto Yamal’s sublime pass with the outside of his boot. Dmitrovic kept his side in it before halftime, denying Eric Garcia and tipping over Fermin Lopez’s effort. Pedri also fired wide as Barcelona pushed for a third.
Torres thought he had his hat-trick ten minutes after the restart, but it was ruled out by VAR. Moments later, Espanyol hit back. Pol Lozano crashed a powerful finish into the net from just inside the area in the 56th minute, giving the visitors a lifeline.
Barcelona had to work hard after then for their victory, but Yamal soon bolted towards goal in pursuit of Marc Casado’s throughball. Dmitrovic rushed out of his area but could only strike the ball against Yamal, who then continued his run and finished into an empty net.
Two minutes later, De Jong was left with all the time in the world at the byline to pick out Rashford, who hooked a volley into the bottom corner.
