Barcelona has established a nine-point lead at the top of the La Liga table following a 3-1 victory over Espanyol in Sunday’s Barcelona derby at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Real Madrid’s match against Valencia, originally scheduled for Saturday night, was postponed due to severe flooding in Spain. As a result, Barcelona’s win expanded their advantage over the reigning champions.
The hosts were dominant in the first half, with Dani Olmo scoring twice and Raphinha adding another goal, giving Barcelona a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.
Olmo’s first goal came from a brilliant pass by Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha found the net by chipping the ball over the onrushing Espanyol goalkeeper after a clever pass from Marc Casado split the defense.
Olmo netted his second in the 31st minute with a stunning strike from outside the box, showcasing the quality and movement of the league leaders, who made it clear they are determined to reclaim the title this season.
Espanyol managed only 23% possession during the first half, while Barcelona continued to impress, having scored an astonishing 40 goals in their first 12 La Liga matches.
The visitors found the net in the 63rd minute when Javi Puado converted from the far post after Carlos Romero delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area.
However, the early damage had already been done, allowing Barcelona to secure their sixth consecutive win across all competitions with this comfortable derby success.