Barça saves a draw in minute 96 and keeps fourth place
MADRID, 13 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A header from Luuk de Jong in the 96th minute gave Barça a draw (2-2) this Sunday against Espanyol on matchday 24 of LaLiga Santander, a blow for the ‘parrots’ when they savored their first victory in the derby at the RCDE Stadium and a certain cure for Xavi’s men who at least keep fourth place.
The heated duel between neighbors was held by Vicente Moreno’s team, despite the fact that Pedri scored for the azulgranas after two minutes. Darder and, already in the second half, Raúl de Tomás, turned the score around, but Xavi’s last ace, the header of a De Jong who entered in the 88th minute, distributed the points in Cornellá.
After thrashing Atlético de Madrid and placing fourth, Barça almost miraculously saved the ‘Top 4’, now equal on 39 points with the rojiblancos, but once again forgot about being able to aspire to something more than that fight. Barça lost two instead of three points and more than anything they frustrated their neighbor in the derby, in a discount that also left Piqué and Melamed expelled.
The derby had become unbeatable for Xavi’s men, with a goal from Pedri, surprising Alba’s great center in the small area on the first play of the night. Adama Traoré monopolized the offensive game of a Barça that seemed happy with his small income, but Espanyol, also because they were down on the scoreboard, pressed harder. The former Wolves shot Diego López and Gavi was also worn up.
Barça faltered again in defense and, in a good play by Raúl de Tomás, Darder appeared to send the ball into the net (1-1). With the tie, Moreno’s men waited further back, too much, but Barça was not clear. Nor in the restart, again pulling Adama while Xavi thought about the revolution in the band with Dembélé warming up.
The Frenchman, whom they failed to place in the winter market, jumped into an offensive formation with Adama, Ferran and Gavi that did not come to an understanding. Piqué and Busquets, reviewing the paper that came from the bench, did not seem to have it clear either. Yes, the Spanish had it, with a Darder that saw the unchecking of ‘RdT’.
The attacker from the Real Madrid youth academy caught an Eric García out of place who entered the break for the injured Araujo, and did not fail against Ter Stegen (1-2). Shortly before, Gavi had made it 2-1 but was ruled out for offside. Those of Moreno, with their red-hot people, did not suffer until the last blows. Dembélé served good plays and Adama put the center that made up the setbacks culé.
Again De Jong, as against Mallorca and Granada, giving points to a Barça that can’t find a good streak. For Espanyol, who have yet to win in the league in 2022, their first win at the RCDE Stadium since they moved in 2009/10 slipped away.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: RCD ESPANYOL, 2 – FC BARCELONA, 2. (1-1, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
RCD ESPANYOL: Diego López; Aleix Vidal (Calero, min. 89), Cabrera, Sergi Gómez, Pedrosa; Keidi Bare (Morlanes, min.62; Fran Merida, min.70), Yangel Herrera, Darder, Puado, Vilhena (Melamed, min.61) and Raúl de Tomás.
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Dest, Araujo (Eric García, break), Piqué, Jordi Alba (Dembélé, min.62); Busquets, Pedri (De Jong, min.88), F. De Jong (Aubameyang, min.62); Ferran Torres, Adama and Gavi (Nico, min.62).
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min.2, Pedri.
1 – 1, min.40, Darder.
2 – 1, min.64, Raul de Tomas.
2 – 2, min.96, Luuk de Jong.
–REFEREE: Hernández Hernández (C. Las Palmas). He admonished Bare (min.23), Vilhena (min.60), Puado (min.76) and Melamed (min.92) by Espanyol. And Piqué (min.74), Eric García (min.78) and Nico (min.83) at Barça. Piqué and Melamed were sent off for a second yellow (92).
–STADIUM: RCDE Stadium, 25,049 spectators.