Barcelona stumbled in its first recreation since a seven-week World Cup break when it was held 1-1 by Espanyol at Camp Nou in a heated derby that completed with each groups having a participant despatched off within the remaining minutes on Saturday.
Barcelona was in management from the fourth minute after defender Marcos Alonso scored with a header. But complacency by the hosts and a few staunch defending by Espanyol gave striker Joselu Mata the possibility to equalize with a penalty within the 73rd after he was fouled by Alonso within the field.
The recreation then turned testy. Referee Antonio Mateu confirmed a second yellow card to Barcelona defender Jordi Alba for protesting within the 78th and Espanyol’s Vinicius Souza for fouling a house participant on the break within the eightieth.
Barcelona will end the yr, which comes after 15 of 38 rounds, forward of Real Madrid on objective distinction on the prime of the Spanish league. But dropping factors at residence in opposition to a aspect only one level above the relegation zone was not in coach Xavi Hernández’s plans.
“The draw is our fault. It was important to finish the year in the best manner possible,” Xavi mentioned. “Espanyol was thrilled to reach the final minutes with a shot at getting an equalizer. These are games you have to finish off.”
A second of silence was held earlier than the sport in reminiscence of Brazil nice Pele, who handed away on Thursday.
The derby was performed amid complaints by Espanyol that it was harmed by the surprising resolution by a Madrid court docket to quickly elevate a suspension on Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski.
The court docket mentioned Lewandowski needs to be allowed to play till Spain’s administrative court docket for sport makes a remaining ruling on the enchantment that Barcelona lodged in opposition to his three-game suspension incurred in November.
The resolution meant Barcelona was in a position to depend on the league’s prime scorer for the match in opposition to its modest crosstown rival, which hasn’t crushed the powerhouse within the league since 2009. Espanyol criticized the choice, taken a day earlier than the sport, saying it brought on “irreparable harm.”
Lewandowski performed a component in Alonso’s objective when he obtained his head on a cross and Andreas Christensen then nodded the ball again for his fellow defender to faucet residence.
On having to play in opposition to a full-strength Barcelona, Espanyol coach Diego Martínez applauded his gamers’ toughness.
“As we say in the changing room, we are ready for anything and to compete under any circumstances,” Martínez mentioned. “We must be proud of these players. They are generous in helping one another and stick to the plan even when things are not going our way. The team knew how to keep a cool head and take advantage of our moments.”
Joselu had fought a solitary battle attempting to win lengthy balls in opposition to Alonso and Christensen till it lastly paid off when he received an aerial problem and was fouled by Alonso within the field. Joselu stepped as much as the penalty spot and drilled his shot down the center past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Espanyol goalkeeper Álvaro Fernández, recalled by Martínez to the beginning lineup for the primary time since October, impressed with key saves down the ultimate stretch. He stopped a header by Christensen and blocked a low shot by Lewandowski as Barcelona pressed for a winner.
“I am very happy for him,” Joselu mentioned of Fernández. “He has shown his character and that he is a great goalkeeper.”
Mateu, who handed out a World Cup document 17 yellow playing cards in Argentina’s quarterfinal win over the Netherlands, confirmed 15 bookings, together with the 2 second yellow playing cards, within the Catalan derby. He additionally used a video overview to withdraw an preliminary pink card he had proven Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera for a potential foul on Lewandowski within the eightieth.