Barcelona’s substitutes Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski score late to secure a 2-0 win at Espanyol, with coach Hansi Flick praising goalkeeper Joan Garcia
BARCELONA snatched a 2-0 win at city rivals Espanyol on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga.
Late goals from substitutes Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski secured a ninth consecutive league victory for the champions.
Coach Hansi Flick admitted his side did not deserve the victory but praised the impact of his substitutes.
He reserved special thanks for goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who made several vital saves against his former club.
“First of all I have to say thank you to Joan Garcia because he played unbelievably,” Flick said. “He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
Espanyol, who had won five games in a row, dominated large periods of the derby at the RCDE Stadium.
Garcia was given a hostile reception by fans of his old team, with banners depicting rats and safety nets erected behind the goals.
The goalkeeper made two crucial first-half interventions to keep the scores level.
He first blocked Roberto Fernandez’s one-on-one effort before producing a stunning save to tip away Pere Milla’s header.
Barcelona’s first clear chance came in the 70th minute, but Espanyol’s Marko Dmitrovic made an astonishing save from Eric Garcia.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 86th minute when Fermin Lopez found Olmo, who curled a shot into the top corner.
Lewandowski added a second in the 90th minute after another driving run from Lopez. The Polish striker dinked the ball home to complete a smash-and-grab victory for the visitors.
“I don’t celebrate the first 80 minutes, how we played,” admitted Flick. “But in the end we scored the two goals, got the three points and this is a massive message to La Liga.”
In other La Liga action, Villarreal moved provisionally third with a 3-1 win at Elche.
Goals from Alberto Moleiro, Georges Mikautadze and Alfonso Pedraza secured the points for Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side.
