Espanyol vs FC Barcelona Player Ratings: Late Goals and Joan Garcia Heroics Seal 2-0 Win as Barça Stay Top

FC Barcelona are up and running in the La Liga after a fantastic late victory against their arch rivals Espanyol. The game was a cracker of a nut contest with Joan Garcia pulling off one save after another. The La Liga clash at RCDE Stadium was a battle of wits between the two goalkeepers of both teams.

For so long, it felt like Espanyol were going to get something from this match after they missed a lot of open sitters. They created better chances, as they almost dominated the game until the 80th-minute mark. Roberto Fernández will be having nightmares about the opportunities he missed.

The entire game pivoted on the brilliance of FC Barcelona's goalkeeper and the impact of their substitutes. Espanyol's game plan was clear: press high and exploit the space, and it almost worked perfectly. They were aggressive, they were hungry, and they carved open the Barça defence on multiple occasions.

Although football can be a cruel game, many times. After weathering the storm, largely thanks to Joan García between the sticks, one of the best managers in the world Hansi Flick made some match-changing substitutions.

The introduction of fresh legs and quality turned the tide, with Dani Olmo's stunning strike from distance breaking the deadlock in the 86th minute. Robert Lewandowski then added a second and final nail in the coffin in stoppage time, making a 2-0 scoreline. It was a classic smash-and-grab performance from Barça, and a lesson in clinical finishing for a heartbroken Espanyol side. Let's take a deep look at the Espanyol vs FC Barcelona Player Ratings.

FC Barcelona Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Goalkeeper

Joan García - 9.0: Simply sensational and undoubtedly the man of the match. He made a staggering six saves, many of which were from point-blank range. We noticed his incredible stop to deny Roberto Fernández in the second half, which kept his team in the game. Without his heroics, Barcelona would have been dead and buried. His command of the area and shot-stopping were absolutely top-tier. A performance that won his team three points.

Defenders

Alejandro Balde - 7.0: A typically energetic display from the left-back. He was solid defensively, winning almost all of his duels and making a few key tackles. What stood out to us was his willingness to get forward, although his final ball was sometimes lacking. He was caught offside once but recovered well. A dependable and tireless performance before being subbed off.

Pau Cubarsí - 7.0: The young defender looked composed for the most part. His passing was ridiculously accurate, showcasing a maturity beyond his years. He did give away a few clumsy fouls, which slightly blemish his performance. From our perspective, he handled the pressure of a derby well, making important interceptions and clearances. A solid outing.

Jules Koundé - 8.0: A real warrior at the back for Barcelona. He was immense, winning a high number of duels and driving forward with the ball successfully. We saw him make a crucial clearance off the line that saved a certain goal. He was a constant threat from set-pieces too, though he'll be annoyed he didn't convert a big chance. An all-action, dominant defensive display.

Gerard Martín - 7.0: Played for just over an hour but put in a very solid shift. He was defensively sound, contributing three blocked shots, which shows his commitment. He did exactly what was asked of him, keeping his side of the pitch locked down. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but his defensive solidity was key in the first half.

Midfielders

Lamine Yamal - 7.5: The brightest spark in a dull Barcelona attack for much of the game. Every time he got the ball, you felt something could happen. He was a nightmare for the Espanyol defence, completing several dribbles and creating two key chances. He should have had an assist for Pedri late on. Sometimes he held on to the ball too long, but his creativity was vital.

Raphinha - 6.5: A pretty disappointing outing for the Brazilian. He was on the pitch for 64 minutes but struggled to make any real impact. What stood out to us was his high number of possession losses, which stalled several attacks. He worked hard and made some recoveries, but his final product just wasn't there today. Rightly substituted.

Marcus Rashford - 6.0: A very quiet first half for Rashford, who was hooked at the break. He seemed off the pace and struggled to get involved in the game. His passing was poor and he lost the majority of his duels. He did manage to create one big chance with a cross, but overall it was a performance to forget.

Frenkie de Jong - 7.0: The captain led by example with a calm and composed performance in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving with his incredibly high pass accuracy and helped his team regain control when they were under pressure. He didn't produce any standout moments of magic, but his steady presence was crucial. A professional's performance.

Eric García - 7.0: An interesting performance playing in midfield. He was everywhere, making tackles, blocking shots and trying to get involved offensively. However, a defensive error from him led to a shot and he also missed a huge chance to score himself. It was a chaotic, energetic, and ultimately mixed bag of a performance.

Forwards

Ferran Torres - 6.0: A really ineffective 64 minutes for the forward. He was anonymous for large spells of the game. What we remember most is the big chance he missed with a header in the first half. He just never looked like a threat and his substitution was no surprise to us.

Substitutes

Dani Olmo - 8.0: Came on and completely changed the game. Scored the crucial breakthrough goal with a fantastic strike from distance. His energy and directness were exactly what Barcelona needed. A match-winning cameo.

Pedri - 7.0: His introduction brought more control and quality to the Barcelona midfield. He helped dictate the tempo in the final stages. He should have scored from Yamal's setup but missed the target.

Robert Lewandowski - 7.5: Came on and did what he does best. He provided a focal point for the attack and sealed the win with a poacher's goal in stoppage time. His presence made the Espanyol defence nervous.

Fermín López - 7.0: Added energy and almost grabbed an assist with a great cross for Koundé. He was lively and looked eager to make an impact, which he did.

Manager

H. Flick - 7.5: The manager gets a high rating from us. His starting lineup struggled, but his substitutions were spot on. He identified what was going wrong and made the changes that ultimately won his team the derby. A great in-game management display.

Espanyol Player Ratings vs FC Barcelona

Goalkeeper

Manuel Iori - 6.5: Had a very bizarre game. He made a couple of good saves, including a key one to deny Lamine Yamal. However, his distribution was atrocious, with a shockingly low pass completion rate. He could do little about the two goals he conceded. A mixed performance.

Defenders

Fernando Calero - 6.5: A solid, no-nonsense performance at the back. He made several important blocks and clearances to keep Barcelona at bay for most of the game. He struggled a bit on the ball but did his primary job of defending quite well until the late onslaught.

Leandro Cabrera - 7.0: The captain led his defence with aggression and passion. He was strong in the air and made some crucial interventions. He even created a big chance with a cross, showing his threat at the other end. A committed performance from the veteran.

Carlos Romero - 7.5: Our pick for Espanyol's best player. He was fantastic, a bundle of energy down the flank. He was superb defensively, winning a high number of tackles and making key interceptions. He also created a golden opportunity with a great cross. A brilliant, all-action display.

Omar El Hilali - 7.0: A really strong defensive performance. He won almost all of his duels and was a rock on the right side. He read the game well, making two interceptions and three tackles. He didn't offer much going forward, but he stuck to his defensive duties diligently and effectively.

Midfielders

Urko González de Zárate - 6.5: A workhorse in midfield who did the dirty work effectively. He recovered the ball an impressive nine times. However, his work on the ball was poor, as he gave away possession too often. A defensively sound but technically limited performance.

Edu Expósito - 7.5: He was Espanyol's main creative force before being subbed off at the hour mark. He created three chances, including one big one, and was a constant threat with his delivery. From our perspective, taking him off might have been a mistake as Espanyol lost a lot of their creative spark.

Pol Lozano - 7.0: A combative and tidy performance in the heart of midfield. He battled hard, won his tackles, and used the ball well with high passing accuracy. He also created a couple of chances. The yellow card was the only negative in a very solid display.

Pere Milla - 6.5: A frustrating game for Milla. He worked hard and got into good positions, creating two chances for his teammates. However, he also missed a big chance himself which could have changed the game. His effort was there but the end product was missing.

Tyrhys Dolan - 6.5: He worked tirelessly for the team and drew several fouls with his tricky runs. He got into good positions but his final shot or pass was lacking. A performance full of effort but low on quality in the final third.

Forwards

Roberto Fernández - 5.0: It's hard to be too critical, but he had a nightmare in front of goal. He missed three big chances that a striker at this level simply has to score. His profligacy cost his team dearly. Despite getting into the right positions, his finishing let him and his team down badly.

Substitutes

Jofre Carreras - 6.0: Came on and had one shot blocked but otherwise struggled to get into the flow of the game.

Kike García - 6.0: Brought on to offer a different threat up front but was caught offside and had little impact.

Ramon Terrats - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to receive a fair rating.

Javi Puado - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes with little time to influence the match.

Manager

J. González Álvarez - 6.5: From our perspective, his tactics were almost perfect. His team was well-organized, created better chances for 80 minutes, and nullified Barcelona's threat. However, his team's poor finishing let him down. You could argue that his substitution of Expósito was a mistake.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match: Joan García