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Two late goals from Olmo and Lewandowski clinch victory in a tight, intense encounter in which Joan GarcĂa made several game-saving interventions
Joan GarcĂa, the visiting goalkeeper, was the central figure in the first half, making a series of outstanding saves against his former club, notably denying Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández, to keep the score tied at the break. Despite Barcelona's strong derby record, Espanyol displayed a solid defense and rapid counter-attacks, indicating a challenging match.
The second half remained frustratingly tight. Barcelona's dazzling attacks were consistently thwarted by Espanyol's defense and impressive saves from Marko Dmitrovic. Espanyol also created numerous clear opportunities but failed to capitalize on them due to poor final decisions. Joan GarcĂa continued his inspired performance, making crucial interventions, including a goal-line clearance by KoundĂ©.
With just four minutes remaining, Barcelona finally broke the deadlock. Substitute Fermin López orchestrated a move, delivering the ball to Dani Olmo, who, returning from a shoulder injury, curled an immaculate strike into the top right corner, securing a vital late goal for Barça.
Capitalizing on Espanyol's disarray after the first goal, Robert Lewandowski sealed Barcelona's victory four minutes later. Fermin LĂłpez again provided the assist after a mazy run, setting up Lewandowski to score and ensure a 2-0 win. This result marked Barcelona's ninth consecutive Liga win and extended their unbeaten streak in the Derbi Barceloni to an impressive 29 games, providing a strong start to 2026.