Espanyol Vs Barcelona: Player Ratings, Olmo Scores Twice

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Post on Nov 04, 2024

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Espanyol vs Barcelona: Player Ratings, Olmo Scores Twice

The Catalan derby lived up to its billing, with Barcelona edging out Espanyol 2-1 in a thrilling encounter at the RCDE Stadium. Dani Olmo was the hero for the Blaugrana, scoring twice in the second half to secure a vital victory. Here's a breakdown of the game with player ratings:

Barcelona Dominates Possession, But Espanyol Fights Back

Barcelona, as expected, dominated possession from the start, playing their trademark tiki-taka football. However, Espanyol, with their high-pressure game, made it difficult for Xavi's men to break them down. The first half ended goalless, with both teams canceling each other out.

Second Half Fireworks:

The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. Barcelona, fueled by the introduction of Pedri, came out with renewed energy. Olmo broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box that left the Espanyol goalkeeper with no chance.

Espanyol didn't give up and responded immediately. Joselu equalized in the 62nd minute, converting a penalty after Koundé brought down Puado in the box.

Just when it seemed like the game was heading towards a draw, Olmo struck again in the 73rd minute, scoring with a brilliant volley after a sublime pass from Gavi. This goal proved to be the winner, with Barcelona holding on for a hard-fought victory.

Player Ratings:

Barcelona:

• Ter Stegen (7): Made a couple of important saves, especially in the second half.
• Koundé (6): Solid defensively but conceded the penalty.
• Araujo (7): Dominant in the air and a strong presence at the back.
• Christensen (7): Calm and composed in possession, snuffed out several Espanyol attacks.
• Balde (6): Energetic but lacked precision in the final third.
• De Jong (6): Controlled the midfield but lacked his usual dynamism.
• Gavi (8): Energetic and creative, provided the assist for Olmo's second goal.
• Pedri (8): Changed the game after coming on, his vision and passing were key.
• Raphinha (6): Showed flashes of brilliance but couldn't find the back of the net.
• Lewandowski (6): Worked tirelessly but struggled to find space in the Espanyol defense.
• Olmo (9): Man of the Match, scored both goals with incredible finishing.

Espanyol:

• Lecomte (6): Couldn't do much about Olmo's goals.
• Gil (6): Solid defensively but lacked attacking threat.
• Cabrera (6): Battled hard against the Barcelona attack.
• Oliván (6): Put in a decent performance but found it hard to contain Raphinha.
• Aleix Vidal (6): Worked tirelessly on the right flank.
• Exposito (6): Controlled the midfield but lacked creativity.
• Darder (7): Espanyol's best player, played with passion and intensity.
• Puado (6): Won the penalty but lacked overall impact.
• Braithwaite (5): Struggled to make an impact against his former club.
• Joselu (7): Scored the equalizer with a clinical penalty.
• Melamed (6): Offered a creative spark in the second half.

Conclusion:

Barcelona's victory against Espanyol was a hard-fought one, and the player ratings reflect the intensity of the derby. Olmo's performance was decisive, and Pedri's impact off the bench proved crucial. However, this win highlighted that Barcelona still has work to do to find consistency and dominance.