Messi on the bench, Barca's winning streak in La Liga ended
Barca could only manage a 1-1 draw away to city rivals Espanyol.
Espanyol 1-1 Barcelona
Goals: Gerard Moreno 66' - Gerard Pique 82'As stated before the match, coach Ernesto Valverde let Messi rest on the bench to prepare for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. The main player alongside Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho in Barca's attack was Paco Alcacer.
Without their key playmaker, Barca lost their effectiveness compared to many previous matches. The La Liga leaders still pressed the pitch but rarely posed a threat to their city rivals' goal.
The most notable moment of Barca's first half was Coutinho's curling shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar. If he had been luckier, the Brazilian star could have scored his first goal for his new team.
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Both teams had difficulty in creating and finishing. Photo: Marca |
Espanyol also created a number of attacking situations in the first 45 minutes but none of them brought results. The situation that the home team caused the most danger was a long-range shot by Leo Baptistao in the 27th minute, forcing goalkeeper Ter Stegen to take two steps to catch the ball.
The heavy rain from the start of the second half also made the match more difficult for both teams. Even when Messi entered the field from the 59th minute, Barca still could not create the necessary dominance.
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Espanyol played with great determination in the Catalonia derby. |
In a tight game, Espanyol took advantage of the better opportunity to take the lead. In the 66th minute, Gerard Moreno rushed into the penalty area to receive a cross from the right wing and headed in to open the scoring. Goalkeeper Ter Stegen got a hand to the ball but could not prevent the goal.
Facing the risk of losing the first match of La Liga, coach Valverde was forced to send the remaining pillars into the field. Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba were present to support their teammates to help Barca play aggressively in the last 20 minutes.
The visitors' efforts finally paid off in the 82nd minute. From Messi's free kick into the penalty area, Pique jumped up and headed the ball to level the score at 1-1.
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Pique saved Barca from defeat with an equalizer. Photo: Marca |
The draw with Espanyol ended Barca's seven-game winning streak in La Liga, which dates back to the end of last year. It was also the leaders' fourth draw in 22 games, alongside 18 wins.
Barca are still leading La Liga with 58 points. In second place, Atletico are 12 points behind but have not played against third-placed Valencia in the same round.