Lucky Luke: De Jong squeezed a dramatic 2: 2 to Barcelona

Spanish League 21-22

Game board

Outstanding Actor

Adama Traore, Score: 7
Barça’s new-old acquisition from Wolves was the most dangerous man on the pitch. Espanyol’s defenders were unable to cope with his speed and physicality

The disappointing actor

Eric Garcia, Score: 3
The brake that arrived in Barcelona at the time with a standing ovation continues to turn out to be a bluff. The main culprit in the second goal and not close to being a brake at the level that Barcelona aspires to

Expectations for the Catalan derby between Barcelona and Espanyol tonight (Sunday) were certainly high, but the heated and charged encounter between the two city rivals met them and even exceeded them. Despite a great attacking ability, Xavi’s defense again tripped him and Eric Garcia’s mistake almost cost him a loss of points, but the Blaugrana coach threw all his offensive tools on the pitch and came on his reward from a dramatic equalizer that set a tremendous 2-2 draw and points distribution at RCDE Stadium . The game, like all Spanish league games, was broadcast on Channel ONE for HOT subscribers, yes subscribers, Cellcom TV and Partner TV.

The game opens at a stunning pace. Already in her first attack of the game, after less than two minutes, Barça came on the scoreboard from a Pedry goal. Xavi’s diamond took advantage of Jordi Alba’s excellent level for wide and accurate for the net. Barcelona continued to press and wrote a very high pace of play that made it difficult for the host. Had it not been for the good ability of Diego Lopez at the Espanyol goal, Adama Traore, who was excellent and burned down the right wing, would have increased the visitors’ advantage. At the same time, the Blaugrana were unlucky and in the 40th minute they paid for not scoring more and absorbed the 1: 1 from the feet of Sergei Dader who scored with a wonderful spin kick.

4 goals, 2 reds and a reversal in the Barcelona derby

In the second half, Barcelona continued to look wonderful and already thought they had gained another advantage in the 56th minute from Gabi Gabi, but the goal was disqualified by the VAR on the grounds of a justified difference. The visitors did not stop attacking but were not accurate and paid dearly for it in the 64th minute from a goal by Raul de Thomas who took advantage of a wonderful depth delivery from Dardar, and especially a serious mistake by Eric Garcia on defense, and established a surprising advantage in contrast to the course of the game.

As the minutes went by the game got hotter and so did we become more aggressive. In the 90th minute, Nico Melamed committed a foul on Gerard Pique and received a second yellow card, but the Spanish stopper, who was not at all calm, got into a physical confrontation with Melamed and paid dearly for it when he absorbed a second yellow and was sent off. Despite the great difficulty, it seems that Xavi’s Barcelona has a different character than what we were used to seeing at the beginning of the season, when as mentioned in the 96th minute, Luc de Jong hit the net and closed the derby in the ultimate way.

Luke de Jong celebrates with Adama Traore (Reuters)

Half a second

’90+6
Manuel Moranales, who was no longer on the pitch, was also sent off in the ranks of Espanyol

’90+6
Gate! Barcelona equalized to 2: 2: What a tremendous drama! Adama Traore picked up an excellent ball towards Luke de Jong who was waiting in the box, and the Dutch substitute hit the net

’90+2
Nico Melamed was yellowed in the ranks of Espanyol

Gerard Pique gets off the pitch (Reuters)

’90+2
Barcelona also had ten players left: the veteran Spanish stopper foolishly chose to get physically involved with Melamed instead of moving on and also absorbed the second yellow card.

’90+2
Espanyol left with ten players: Nicole Melamed was sent off after a foul on Gerard Pique

’89
Defensive replacement in the host ranks: Fernando Calero replaced ex-Barcelona, Elijah Vidal

Sergio Busquets vs. Elias Vidal (La Liga)

’89
Xavi throws all his offensive tools: Luke de Jong replaces Pedry

’83
The yellow card is drawn to Nico Gonzalez

’78
Eric Garcia was also yellowed in the Blaugana ranks after committing a foul

’76
The yellow card is issued to Javier Fuado from Espanyol

’74
Gerard Pique was yellowed in the Barça ranks

’72
Xabi’s offensive and surprising substitution that will surely be in the headlines: Osman Dembele came on and Jordi Alba came out

’72
Barcelona’s double replacement: Nico Gonzalez replacing Gabi

’71
Manu Morlance who had just come up to play, was injured and cleared his place on the lawn for Fran Merida

’64
Gate! Espanyol went up to 1: 2: Sergei Darder sent Raul de Thomas with a wonderful depth delivery that went over Eric Garcia, and the striker Dyke with a lot of composure in front of Ter Stegen and scored

Pierre-Emerick Obmiang in action (Reuters)

’62
Xavi’s offensive replacement: Barcelona’s new signing, Pierre-Emerick Obmiang, came on to replace Frankie de Jong

’62
In addition, Cady Barra gave way to Manuel Morlance

Raul de Thomas vs. Serginio Dest (La Liga)

’61
Double Espanyol Substitution: First, Nico Melamed came up to play in place of Tony Villana

’60
Tony Vilana was yellowed in the ranks of Espanyol

’56
Barcelona already thought they had gone up 1-2 from Gabi’s goal, but after a VAR check, the referee disqualified the goal due to the fact that Frankie de Jong who hit the ball during was in a different position

Sergio Busquets and Angel Herrera (Reuters)

’46
Xavi’s first replacement for Barcelona: Ronald Araujo clears his place on the pitch for Eric Garcia

first half

Ter Stegen surrenders to a ball from Darder (Reuters)

’40
Gate! Espanyol equalized 1-1: Raul de Thomas unleashed a back-to-back pass to Sergei Dardar, who unleashed a wonderful spin kick to the right-hand post and subdued Ter Stegen

’37
Gabby burst wonderfully on the left wing after overcoming a number of defensive players and lifting the ball towards Adama Traore. The winger released a huge kick from the air but was stopped by Diego López with an excellent shot

’25
Adama Traore took control of the field wide with a free kick, and from the air sent an inaccurate kick that went over the crossbar

’23
The first yellow card of the game was drawn towards Cady Barra from Espanyol

’14
Adama Traore was sent off on the left wing and cut to the center of the extension, but released a kick that missed the frame slightly

Mark-Andre Ter Stegen Celebrates (La Liga)

Gabby and Serginio Dest celebrate with Pedry (Reuters)

Pedry celebrates with Sergio Dest (Reuters)

‘2
Gate! Barcelona went up to 0: 1: What an amazing start! In the first attack in Barça’s game, they took the lead. Jordi Alba picked up a great ball to Pedri, who found himself free in the box and accurate to the net