Despite showing a subpar performance in the second half, Barcelona's coach Hansi Flick was not too hard on his players as they registered a 3-1 victory over Espanyol. Flick acknowledged that his team could have done better in the second half but also pointed out their strong lead built in the first half. VAR came into play as Espanyol had two goals ruled offside, denying them a clean sheet.
Barcelona Secure Victory over Espanyol Amidst Second-Half Drawbacks
After a disappointing second-half display, Barcelona emerged victorious against Espanyol with a scoreline of 3-1. Head coach Hansi Flick expressed mixed feelings about the team's performance, acknowledging areas for improvement despite their solid first-half performance.
Match Highlights
Barcelona dominated the opening stanza, creating numerous scoring opportunities. Raphinha broke the deadlock in the 7th minute, followed by goals from Robert Lewandowski and Pedri. Espanyol managed to pull one back through Nico Melamed in the 64th minute.
However, two potential Espanyol equalizers were ruled offside by VAR, denying them a chance to level the score. Barcelona held on to their lead, securing all three points and maintaining their position at the top of the La Liga standings.
Flick's Assessment
"We played very well in the first half," said Flick after the match. "We had a lot of control and created many chances. But in the second half, we lost some of our intensity and focus."
"We have to learn from this and make sure we maintain our concentration for the entire 90 minutes," he added.
VAR's Role
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) played a crucial role in the match, ruling out two Espanyol goals for offside. The first decision was particularly contentious, as it appeared that Joselu was onside.
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Pedri put in a standout performance, providing the assist for Barcelona's third goal and controlling the midfield.
Flick attributed their drop in intensity to fatigue and a lack of concentration.
VAR denied Espanyol two potential equalizers, keeping Barcelona's lead intact.
Barcelona remain at the top of the La Liga standings after this victory.
Nico Melamed scored the consolation goal for Espanyol in the 64th minute.
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