Espanyol Vs Barcelona: Player Ratings & Olmo's Brace

Nuigalway Admin

You need 2 min read

·

Post on Nov 04, 2024

52 visitor like this post

Share

Espanyol vs Barcelona: Player Ratings & Olmo's Brace Power Blaugrana to Victory

The Catalan derby, a clash of pride and passion, unfolded at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday as Espanyol hosted Barcelona. It was a tense affair, with both sides desperate for victory, but ultimately Barcelona emerged triumphant thanks to a brace from the impressive Dani Olmo.

Let's dive into the key talking points, player performances, and what the result means for both sides.

Olmo Shines as Barcelona Dominate

The Blaugrana came out the blocks firing, pressing high and suffocating Espanyol's attempts to build from the back. This early dominance yielded its reward in the 12th minute when a neat pass from Pedri found Dani Olmo, who finished with a clinical strike to open the scoring.

Barcelona continued to dictate the tempo, with Gavi and Pedri pulling the strings in midfield, while Raphinha and Dembélé offered width and threat on the flanks. The second goal arrived in the 39th minute, again through Olmo, who capitalized on a defensive lapse by Espanyol to slot the ball past a helpless Álvaro Fernández.

Espanyol, despite some valiant efforts, struggled to get a foothold in the game. Their best chance came in the 70th minute when Joselu headed just wide of Ter Stegen's goal.

Player Ratings:

Barcelona:

• Dani Olmo (9.0): A standout performance with two goals and a constant threat throughout the match.
• Pedri (8.5): Controlled the midfield with his passing range and intelligent movement.
• Gavi (8.0): Energetic and incisive, constantly pressing and winning the ball back for Barcelona.
• Raphinha (7.5): A dangerous presence on the right flank, providing dangerous crosses and creating chances.
• Dembélé (7.0): Threatened with his pace and dribbling ability, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
• Ter Stegen (6.5): Not overly tested, but made a crucial save in the second half to deny Espanyol a goal.

Espanyol:

• Joselu (7.0): A tireless striker who led the line bravely despite Espanyol's struggles.
• Aleix Vidal (6.5): Worked hard on the right flank and offered some attacking threat.
• Vini Souza (6.0): Struggled to contain the Barcelona midfield and made several misplaced passes.
• Álvaro Fernández (5.5): Could do little to prevent Olmo's goals, but made a couple of important saves.

What's Next?

This victory for Barcelona keeps them firmly in the La Liga title race, while the defeat leaves Espanyol hovering just above the relegation zone. Both sides will be hoping to build momentum from this encounter as the season continues.

The performance of Dani Olmo will be a significant boost for Barcelona, highlighting his growing importance to the team. His clinical finishing and ability to create chances from midfield make him a valuable asset for Xavi Hernandez.

This derby victory serves as a reminder of Barcelona's prowess and their determination to reclaim their dominance in Spanish football. For Espanyol, the challenge now is to regroup and fight for survival.