Barça has a big party in the derby and already feels like League champion

BarcelonaJoy comes in waves. Barça already feels like La Liga champions and Espanyol is pulling its hair out, unable to win a single match this year. Some are already preparing the street celebrations and others are looking with some concern at the relegation zone, lest they end up suffering. In a derby marked by the awakening of Ferran Torres, who had been dormant for months, Barça did its homework and left Madrid far behind in the standings. Very far. 9 points behind, which seems like a world. The difference between Barça and Espanyol is also huge, although Manolo's team managed to compete in the second half, in which they managed to cause some concern for Barça. If the first half was blue and red, in the second Lamine Yamal and Rashford sealed the rout of a team that had suffered a little; not much, but had suffered.

There's nothing better than a derby to lick your European wounds. Barça has been saving space in its trophy cabinet for the twenty-ninth La Liga title for days, but until the math confirms it, they have to keep moving forward, even though the minds of many Barça fans are more on the second leg of the Champions League. This is the reality of Flick's team. Espanyol, on the other hand, is creaking. The memory of a few months ago of that united and encouraging block that dreamed of playing in Europe next season is long gone. Now they see the relegation zone getting closer while the players try to understand why things are no longer going well for them. They haven't won since December.

Ferran regains his smile

And Ferran Torres hadn't scored since January. A streak was broken, but not the one Manolo González wanted. It was the Valencian forward who could show his best smile while taking advantage of a tender defense's weaknesses in the first half. Although Flick put out a star-studded team, as if unaware of what would happen next Tuesday at the Metropolitano, Barça managed to seal the match partly because Espanyol didn't do much. Joan Garcia, so prominent in the first leg, watched from afar with no work, while Barça surrounded the visiting area waiting for the moment to change pace and strike.

Ferran found the first goal from a corner, after seeing Dmitrovic, with bad luck, collide with a teammate and miss the chance to catch the ball. The second was a loss of possession by the visitors, which fell to the feet of the player who could do them the most harm: Lamine Yamal. The genius from Rocafonda, who had already delivered two or three spectacular plays without having his best day, sent the ball behind Espanyol's defense with one of those outside-of-the-boot touches that are now part of his repertoire of tricks. Ferran took advantage to beat Dmitrovic with a subtle touch. The ball went slowly towards the goal, though unstoppable, as if prolonging Espanyol's agony. Barça could have scored a few more goals, while Espanyol moved their defense from side to side, like youngsters do when playing foosball, trying to block as many opponent shooting options as possible. Lamine Yamal, a nuisance who keeps asking for the ball, tried from the right flank, where Barça attacked the most. On the other flank, without Raphinha, it was Balde who livened things up with his vertical runs.

From time to time, Espanyol looked for Kike García, a proletarian of football, who battled with Cubarsí while Dolan tried to test an Araujo who was always uncomfortable at fullback. But the Uruguayan, for one day, did what was needed. Barça controlled the tempo always thanks to Pedri's magic and the spark of Gavi, who, little by little, is regaining past sensations. Gavi doesn't stand still, facing off against Pol Lozano and Urko. The derby was surprisingly calm, for Barça, beyond a scare with Gerard Martín's ankle, who was substituted at halftime to protect him for Tuesday. Because, evidently, Flick is clear about what will happen in Madrid.

Visiting reaction

Losing 2-0, already at halftime, Espanyol had to decide whether to continue as they were, accepting that they had lost the match, or to take a step forward. And they did: with Roberto's introduction and more daring. Leaving more space also meant exposing themselves more in defense, but when Ferran Torres scored the 3-0, he was offside. And, subsequently, Pol Lozano scored the 2-1 on almost the first shot from the 'blanquiazules'. As had happened in recent matchdays, Espanyol did not manage to win, but they did compete. And in what a way.

In the second half, the match seemed more like a derby of old. On the matchday when La Liga paid homage to past football, Manolo's team tried to take inspiration from Azkargorta's or Clemente's teams. And Barça, from Cruyff's era, conceded goals but always found a way to score more. Joan Garcia saved two not very clear chances, and Rashford and Cancelo, who had come on to activate the right wing, wasted some clear opportunities. And Lamine Yamal? He had disappeared, although he is always a threat. Just at the end, he won the ball from Dmitrovic and scored the third goal, which ended the hopes of an Espanyol side that, resigned, saw Rashford punish them with the fourth goal shortly after. Barça – with De Jong back – celebrated a great derby that did not alter the dynamics. Espanyol has forgotten how to win and Barça already feels like champions. Although now what most excites them is dreaming of a historic comeback on Tuesday.