Welcome like a sworn enemy for the former Joan García, who moved to the Bluagrana in the summer. For him whistles, howls and cards on which his name has been combined with the image of a rat
It should have been Joan García’s derby, it was Joan García’s derby. In a spectacular match, Barcelona won 2-0 at Espanyol with late goals from Dani Olmo and Lewandowski – sleeping at +7 on Madrid playing tomorrow at the Bernabeu with Betis, without the pichichi Mbappé – but the great protagonist was their goalkeeper. And now we’ll see what De la Fuente will do for the national team…
Bad reception
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Barcelona’s number 1 grew up at Espanyol and last summer he moved to their rivals who paid his 27 million euro release clause. Last night he returned to Cornellá, his stadium for the last 4 years, and was received very badly: whistles, howls and cards on which his name was combined with the image of a rat. He, imperturbable, did not let himself be influenced by the rain and the hostile environment and was decisive. In the first half he saved his team twice, first on Roberto and then with a save that on 3 January was already a candidate for save of the year: miraculous reflexes and an iron right hand in full flight on a close-range header from Pere Milla. Even more angry ‘Perícos’ and safety nets, to discourage the throwing of objects towards the hated ex, put to the test. This is the Barcelona derby: an unequal and bitter challenge, with the Blaugrana having not lost in 29 La Liga matches, since in 2009 the blue and white won with a brace from De la Peña, someone who did the opposite path going from Barça to Espanyol, and the ban on the sale of tickets to opposing fans which has lasted since the year before. You can’t go to the stadium wearing the visiting team’s shirt, and the tension is always very high.
Super Fermin
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In La Liga, Barça had won 8 in a row, Espanyol had won 5. The match was between fifth and first, and the two opponents had not faced each other cohabiting in the top 5 of the championship since December 2010: 5-1 for Guardiola’s Barça against Pochettino’s Espanyol. The hosts started better, beating the hated ex. Barcelona, with Raphinha with 10 between Lamine and Rashford and behind Ferran, did nothing: in the first half only two shots from Yamal, one outside and one saved in the 46th minute. During the break, Flick removed Rashford to put on Fermín and move Raphinha to the left, but it was once again Jona García who was decisive, who with an extraordinary exit once again denied the goal to the frustrated Roberto who shortly afterwards was stopped by Kounde, an intervention on the line, and again by the highly inspired goalkeeper. Inside Dani Olmo and Lewandowski, and the three substitutions decided the match: Fermín first picked out Olmo on the left with the former Leipzig player who burned Dmitrovic with a delicious right-footed shot at the top corner, then he served the Pole with the goal that closed the match, touch underneath and correction to the chest. Objects thrown by incredulous and angry fans, Roberto replaced and disconsolately intent on thinking about lost opportunities, Barça, already winter champions since before Christmas, very excited. On the bench while Flick explodes with joy, Ter Stegen and Szczesny applaud Joan García, their decisive colleague.
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