Barcelona extends dominance in La Liga

January 04, 2026 / 8:01 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over city rivals Espanyol in Matchday 18, claiming their ninth consecutive win in La Liga and temporarily extending their lead at the top to seven points over Real Madrid. The defending champions now have 49 points, while Espanyol remain fifth with 33 points.

Juan García and key substitutes shine

The victory was driven by the brilliance of goalkeeper Juan García, who joined Barcelona from Espanyol this season, and the impact of substitutes Fermín López, Dani Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski. López provided both assists, while Olmo and Lewandowski scored in the 86th and 90th minutes, respectively, to seal the win.

Early struggles without Pedri

Barcelona struggled in the first half due to the absence of midfielder Pedri, which allowed Espanyol to control much of the tempo. Espanyol created several early chances, including shots from Roberto Fernández and Lamine Djamel, but García repeatedly denied the home side with crucial saves.

Second half surge secures victory

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick made strategic substitutions, introducing Pedri, Lewandowski, Olmo, and López, which shifted the momentum. Despite continued threats from Espanyol, García remained exceptional in goal, stopping multiple one-on-one chances and close-range efforts.

Late goals decide the Derby

The deadlock was finally broken in the 86th minute when Olmo curled a shot into the top left corner after a pass from López. Lewandowski added a second goal in stoppage time following another assist from López, securing Barcelona's ninth win in a row and maintaining their dominance over Espanyol in recent encounters.