Spain – 35th day
Small derby this Wednesday evening between Barça and Espanyol. The back-to-back expulsions of Ansu Fati on the one hand and Pol Lozano on the other led the start of the second half. Three minutes after the visitors’ red card, Luis Suarez scored his 15th goal this season to allow his own to still believe in the title (1-0). With this defeat, Espanyol is relegated.
The lesson: Two minutes, two reds. The rest…
Far from being exciting this Barcelona derby … Very far. Without rhythm, Barça struggled in the first period to find a strike angle or a solution. The fault with too axial and stereotypical play. We were ready to get excited when we returned from the locker room with a sexy 4-4-2 with Messi and Fati on the flanks and Griezmann around Suarez. It will have lasted … four short minutes. Time for the kid from Masia, who has just come into play, to screw his crampons on Calero’s shin and see red. The feat becomes even more credible for Espanyol, which will benefit from two minutes of digital advantage. Lozano in turn tickles an opponent’s shin, Pique in this case. As for Fati, yellow, then red after VAR consultation. What open a little more spaces for men of Setién. Two minutes finally fascinating. It doesn’t weigh much on 90. It will certainly take more to get Real.
The winner: Luis Suarez, a goal, a podium and a basta!
Suarez as we like it. Brilliant, particle accelerator and genius of vice, the Uruguayan can usually eat a game all by himself. Tonight, we saw the invisible Luisito, who does not want to run too much, nor to multiply too much. But he always marks the right pawn. As usual, he came out of his infernal box to plant where it hurts. After a great combination initiated by Sergi Roberto, Griezmann cleverly follows for Messi. The Pulga is countered, but the spearhead of the Celeste is there. With a flat foot, he offers three ugly but precious points to Barça in the La Liga race. Small bonus, Luis Suarez enters a little more in the history of FC Barcelona. This Wednesday he becomes the third goalscorer in all competitions in the history of the Blaugrana with 195 goals exceeding Kubala. Next goal, the 232 achievements of Cesar Rodriguez and a second place behind … Messi.
The loser: Goodbye Spanish!
J.T.
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