Barcelona blew their chance to go two points clear at the top of LaLiga as they were held to a 1-1 draw by local rival Espanyol on Saturday.
Match Report
Playing in their first game since the World Cup, the hosts made the perfect start when Marcos Alonso headed them in front in the seventh minute.
Xavi's side were unable to extend their lead, though, and were made to pay as former Real Madrid striker Joselu won and then converted a penalty 17 minutes from time.
In a chaotic end to the match with both teams looking for a winner, controversial referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz took centre stage, sending off Barcelona's Jordi Alba and Espanyol's Vinicius Souza off within three minutes of each other.
This was Lahoz's first game since he brandished 15 yellow cards and a red in Argentina's ill-tempered World Cup quarter-final clash with the Netherlands. Barcelona are now level on points with Madrid, with the two sides locked on 38 points after 15 matches.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Gavi's shot stopped
6' GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol (Alonso)
14' Lewandowski's header stopped
19' Alonso's shot wide out
24' Yellow Card! Fati booked
37' Raphinha's shot stopped
54' Yellow Card! Calero booked
55' Lewandowski's header wide out
72' Penalty Goal! Barcelona 1-1 Espanyol (Joselu)
77' Second Yellow Card! Alba sent off
79' Second Yellow Card! Vinicius Souza sent off
86' Christensen's header stopped
Line-ups
Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, Alba, Ter Stegen, Roberto, Alonso, Christensen, De Jong, Raphinha, Fati, Pedri, Gavi
Subs: Busquets, Depay, Bellerin, Kessie, Dembele, Pena, Ferran Torres, Kounde, Ronald Araújo, Eric Garcia, Arnau Tenas, Álex Baldé
Espanyol XI: Cabrera, Joselu, Braithwaite, Gomez, Darder, Brian Oliván, Calero, Álvaro Fernández, Vinicius Souza, Óscar Gil, Melamed
Subs: Rubén Sánchez, Aleix Vidal, Benjamin Lecomte, José Carlos Lazo, Puado, Exposito, Dani Villahermosa, Joan García, Omar El Hilali, Roger Martínez, Simo Keddari
D10S_LM10
362
Messi was correct. This referee is a joke 🤣
dunaipyz
227
On paper Pedri and Gavi are next Iniesta and Xavi but on the pitch they're the next Griezmann and Coutinho[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Mabanychol
142
Referee supposed to be a man of match
jesalam14
115
the year 2055, Pedri (barca head coach) was requesting Sergio for another 6month contract to stay put.😁 the guy never get old.....💯
Shamsuddeenb
102
This man always hate anything related to Messi. I have already saw what is going to happen before it started!
Real_HEAVEN1
56
from point difference to goals difference we will differentiate men from boys soon
ballstarsee
43
GIF link Here: http://www.goalgif.xyz/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=53406398&language=en
XtraZèálUche
26
Alonso' score and help Barca to drop point [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
NegroLife
16
Barcelona fans realizing World Cup is over and Messi is not their player😂
Football⚽/Fan
16
Messi was correct. This referee is a joke 🤣
[image]
He is not joke... He is a legend of Real Madrid,, whenever They needed him he always helped them 😁
yikclmnuz
15
Messi was correct. This referee is a joke 🤣
[image]
play and win with more goals so that you will not put blames on refere
Doxmang
10
Mateu Lahoz gave out 14 bookings, three red cards and overturned one of those sendings off during Barcelona vs. Espanyol. He was the referee who gave out 17 yellow cards during Argentina vs. Netherlands at the World Cup. At least he's consistent 😅
Leo_Messi_GOAT
9
Messi was correct. This referee is a joke 🤣
[image]
he is not a joke, he is crazy and really an motherf***er
BabaYaga2312
8
But the draw is not all on the ref tho: 1. Barcas play style has become very bland, boring and predictable. 2. Pedri-gavi midfield duo is basically 1-2 good games in 4-5 games - It’s like one has to sacrifice his game for the other 3. When xavi first arrived at barca his play style was completely different from what it is now - it’s becoming like the old Barca
bepbdntuy
8
Messi was correct. This referee is a joke 🤣
[image]
the same ref who gifted Messi a penalty and kept him on the field
PatrickBarca
8
guys pleas don't reply to this guy we all now they played very good
They Really Played well I don't Know what This Fool is Saying Maybe he didn't watch the game