Barcelona Avoids Espanyol "Surprises" to Secure Ninth Consecutive La Liga Win

03 January 2026at22:05

Barcelona secured a crucial and hard-fought 2-0 victory over local rivals Espanyol on Saturday evening in the Catalan Derby, a match from Week 18 of the Spanish League.

Barça struggled significantly to break down Espanyol's defense, finally finding a breakthrough with a "magical touch" from Dani Olmo. Olmo opened the scoring in the 86th minute with a precise shot that goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic could only watch sail into the net. Robert Lewandowski then sealed the victory with a second goal in the 90th minute.

This victory marked Barcelona's ninth consecutive win in La Liga. The team has been undefeated since October 5, 2025, having overcome all their opponents during this impressive run.

Coach Hansi Flick's side now has 49 points, extending their lead to seven points over second-placed Real Madrid, who are set to host Real Betis tomorrow, Sunday, at 16:15 GMT+1. Espanyol, meanwhile, remains on 33 points and holds fifth position.

Q&A

How did Barcelona break the deadlock against Espanyol?

Dani Olmo's 'magical touch' in the 86th minute finally opened the scoring for Barcelona, overcoming Espanyol's stubborn defense before Robert Lewandowski added a second goal.

What is the impact of Barcelona's victory on the La Liga standings?

This 2-0 win gives Barcelona 49 points, extending their lead to seven points over second-placed Real Madrid. Espanyol remains in fifth position with 33 points.