Barcelona vs Espanyol: Player Ratings, Olmo Shines
Barcelona cruised to a comfortable 1-0 victory over Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Saturday, with Dani Olmo stealing the show and securing the win with a stunning goal. The Blaugrana dominated possession and created numerous chances, ultimately deservedly taking all three points at the Camp Nou.
Here are the player ratings for both sides:
Barcelona:
- Ter Stegen (7.5): Made a couple of crucial saves, including a penalty stop, to keep a clean sheet. Showed great composure and anticipation.
- Koundé (7): Solid defensively, providing cover for the backline. Also contributed going forward, linking well with the midfield.
- Araujo (7.5): Dominated the air and made key tackles. A rock at the heart of the defense.
- Balde (7): Energetic and adventurous down the left flank, causing Espanyol constant problems.
- Roberto (6.5): Provided a steady presence on the right, offering good support to the attack.
- De Jong (7): Controlled the tempo of the game and played with precision and intelligence.
- Pedri (7.5): Pulled the strings in midfield, orchestrating attacks with his clever passes and movement.
- Gavi (7): Full of energy and enthusiasm, winning the midfield battle and driving Barcelona forward.
- Raphinha (6): Worked tirelessly and created some dangerous moments, but lacked the final touch.
- Lewandowski (6.5): Linked up well with his teammates, but couldn’t find the back of the net despite having several opportunities.
- Olmo (9): The standout performer. Scored the winning goal with a magnificent strike, demonstrating his exceptional technique and finishing ability.
Espanyol:
- Lecomte (6): Made a number of good saves but was ultimately powerless to stop Olmo's wonder goal.
- Gil (5.5): Struggled to contain the threat of Balde down the left-hand side.
- Cabrera (6): Solid in the air, but couldn't prevent Barcelona from creating clear-cut chances.
- Oliván (5.5): Got caught out defensively on several occasions, struggling to deal with the pace of the Barcelona attack.
- Aleix Vidal (6): A steady presence on the right-hand side, but lacked the attacking spark to create any real threat.
- Darder (6): Tried his best to control the midfield battle, but was outshined by the Barcelona midfield trio.
- Suárez (6): Worked hard but couldn’t influence the game significantly.
- Puado (5): Isolated in attack and unable to make any meaningful impact.
- Braithwaite (5.5): Came on as a substitute but failed to create any danger.
- Joselu (5): Struggled to hold the ball up against the Barcelona defense and lacked support from his teammates.
Olmo's brilliance was the difference maker in a game that saw Barcelona dominate from start to finish. His stunning goal, a curled shot from the edge of the box that left Lecomte with no chance, was a testament to his exceptional talent and confirmed his growing influence in the Blaugrana squad.
The victory keeps Barcelona firmly in the hunt for the La Liga title, maintaining their strong start to the season. Meanwhile, Espanyol remain in the bottom half of the table, looking for ways to improve their form and climb up the rankings. This match was a reminder of the gulf in class between the two Catalan sides, and Barcelona's dominance suggests they will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the campaign.