Barcelona

Barcelona was in control from the fourth minute after defender Marcos Alonso's goal but a 73rd minute equaliser from a penalty helped Espanyol enforce a 1-1 ...

He also used a video review to withdraw an initial red card he had shown Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera for a possible foul on Lewandowski in the 80th. Espanyol goalkeeper Álvaro Fernández, recalled by Martínez to the starting lineup for the first time since October, impressed with key saves down the final stretch. Joselu stepped up to the penalty spot and drilled his shot down the middle beyond Marc-Andre ter Stegen. They are generous in helping one another and stick to the plan even when things are not going our way. Barcelona was in control from the fourth minute after defender Marcos Alonso scored with a header. But dropping points at home against a side just one point above the relegation zone was not in coach Xavi Hernández’s plans.

One of the calling cards for Barcelona since Xavi Hernandez took over is not being able to put a game away. Far too often this season, the Catalan side takes ...

Regardless, that his substitutes only serve to destabilize the team should be worrying for Xavi. The second one came following a foul and he said something to Lahoz as Barcelona was preparing the wall. Barcelona started the game with Ansu Fati and Raphinha on the wings. The first one came following the penalty where, for some reason, he took exception to the way the Espanyol players celebrated. Much of the talk is going to focus on the decisions made by Lahoz. One of the calling cards for Barcelona since Xavi Hernandez took over is not being able to put a game away.

Barca started strongly, with defender Marcos Alonso glancing a header into the net to give hosts lead with seven minutes on the clock.

Madrid also relied on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to keep the score deadlocked as they struggled to create chances in their first game since the league paused for the World Cup. But the Ballon d’Or winner came through in the final minutes on Friday to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side three vital points. Minutes later, Espanyol’s Vinicius Souza was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Robert Lewandowski.

Both teams finished with 10 men as Jordi Alba and Vinicius Souza were sent off, with referee Mateu Lahoz allowing the game to spiral out of control at Camp Nou.

In the second half there were a lot of cards, sendings off and the game stopped a lot." "There were a lot of interruptions because there were a lot of fouls, but we had to make sure that we played our game." Xavi also received a booking from Lahoz for complaining from the sidelines late on, and the official left the stadium to jeers and whistles from the home fans. "We had a very good first half, we lacked the goal to kill the game. "We wanted to leave with a win, to leave as leaders," said Sergi Roberto. "The draw is our fault, we can talk about the referee and other things but they are our mistakes," said Xavi.

Marcos Alonso went from hero to zero as Espanyol held toppers Barcelona to a 1-1 draw on Saturday yet the Catalan giants still claimed the top spot on goal ...

Jordi Alba was laid off in the final half after getting two yellow cards inside four minutes for his protests to Mateu Lahoz and two minutes later Esoanyol’s Vinicius Souza was also brandished a red card by the Spanish referee. After Alonso gave Barcelona an early lead Lahoz sprang into action and before the break, he booked four players besides awarding Espanyol a penalty in the second half, which Joselu converted to equalize for his side. Referee Antonio Matue Lahoz, however, took the centre stage he handed out fifteen yellow cards and two red cards in the game at Camp Nou.