Barcelona has taken a commanding early lead in their derby match against Espanyol at the Spotify Camp Nou. With this victory, Barcelona can extend their lead over Real Madrid to nine points in the La Liga title race.
Manager Hansi Flick made five changes to the Barcelona lineup, with one eye on their upcoming Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. Among the players brought into the starting XI was Ferran Torres, who has now opened the scoring.
Torres Puts Barcelona Ahead
In the ninth minute, Torres found the back of the net with a close-range header. Espanyol’s goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrovic, appealed for a foul, claiming he was impeded as Lamine Yamal’s corner kick sailed over his head. However, the referee saw no infringement, and Barcelona secured the opening goal.
Torres Secures Brace with Another Lamine Yamal Assist
Shortly after, Barcelona doubled their advantage, with Torres scoring his second goal of the match. Lamine Yamal was again the provider, delivering a superb trivela pass that deflected into the net off the number 7 shirt.
These goals are particularly important for Torres, who has struggled to find the back of the net in recent months. His last La Liga goal was on January 31st against Elche, making this brace a significant end to his scoring drought, especially given the recent speculation surrounding his future at Barcelona.
