European football: García back to haunt Espanyol as Barcelona go seven clear | European club football

The Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick hailed Joan García as probably the greatest goalkeepers on the earth after the previous Espanyol participant delivered a decisive efficiency towards his previous membership within the Catalan derby on Saturday.

García was instrumental in Barcelona’s 2-0 victory, producing a collection of excellent saves, with the league leaders extending their lead on the prime of the La Liga standings to seven factors.

“The very first thing I’ve to do is thank Joan García,” Flick stated. “He is likely one of the finest goalkeepers on the earth. We suffered, however we took the three factors and that’s the message we ship to La Liga.“

Flick praised the goalkeeper’s composure, notably given the hostile reception he confronted on his return to the RCDE Stadium, the place he had beforehand come by way of the ranks. “Incredible,” the German supervisor stated when requested about García’s psychological power. “I feel he won’t neglect what he lived right here, as a result of he performed for Espanyol and so they gave him his alternative. Now he performs for us, and he was one of many causes for the win.”

García was jeered from the warmup, with banners geared toward him displayed within the stands, together with photos of rats and mock banknotes bearing his face. Flick stated the 24-year-old appeared unaffected earlier than kickoff.

Flick’s males appeared to have been pissed off as they aimed to increase a successful run of eight league video games towards an Espanyol facet who had recorded 5 straight victories themselves.

Substitute Dani Olmo, although, lastly broke the impasse with a cool end after which Robert Lewandowski, having additionally come off the bench, wrapped issues up within the ninetieth minute to go away Barça additional away from Actual, who host Actual Betis on Sunday.

Villarreal sit third after a 3-1 win at Elche, taking management with early objectives from Alberto Moleiro and Georges Mikautadze earlier than Alfonso Pedraza made positive late on.

Juventus’s Serie A title hopes had been dealt a blow as they had been held to a 1-1 draw at residence by relegation-battling Lecce on Saturday, with the hosts coming from behind however failing to win after Jonathan David had a Panenka-style penalty saved.

Juventus are fourth on 33 factors, 5 off the leaders, Milan, who’ve performed a recreation much less. Lecce are sixteenth on 17 factors, 5 factors above the relegation zone.

The house facet dominated the opening half, creating a number of probabilities however went in behind on the break after Lameck Banda pounced on a wayward cross to provide Lecce the lead on the stroke of half-time. Juventus equalised 4 minutes after the break, Yildiz’s shot taking a deflection and the ball falling to Weston McKennie who fired previous Falcone. Lecce confronted wave after wave of Juventus assaults and the guests conceded a penalty for Mohamed Kaba’s handball in blocking David’s shot.

Yildiz handed the ball to David however the Canada ahead despatched a tame Panenka-style effort down the center and the diving Falcone had time to lift his foot to make the save. “David is a penalty taker, he strikes them very effectively and he made the appropriate alternative,” stated the Juventus supervisor, Luciano Spalletti.

“Penalties get missed. If another person had missed, it might have been the identical. Subsequent time I’ll in all probability step in too, as a result of I like making selections, however this stuff occur throughout a match. It wasn’t a favour simply to let him rating, he has to attain as a result of he’s the penalty taker.”

Falcone denied David a late winner with a positive save, Yildiz hit the submit in added time and the ultimate whistle was met with a refrain of boos from the Juventus followers.

There was no pleased homecoming for Roma supervisor Gian Piero Gasperini as his facet misplaced 1-0 at his former membership Atalanta, with the guests in peril of shedding contact within the Serie A title race after a fourth loss in six video games. Gasperini spent 9 seasons at Atalanta however his first return to Bergamo led to disappointment and Roma slip to fifth, degree on 33 factors with fourth-placed Juventus and 5 behind leaders Milan who’ve performed one recreation fewer.

Atalanta, who transfer to eighth within the standings on 25 factors, took a Twelfth-minute lead when Giorgio Scalvini bundled the ball over the road from a nook and the hosts had one other first-half aim dominated out for offside. Roma, outplayed for a lot of the opening half, improved after the break however failed to search out an equaliser which might have earned Gasperini’s facet their first draw of the season throughout all competitions.

In Ligue 1, Lille noticed their successful run finish in a 2-0 residence defeat by Rennes, with defender Alexsandro Ribeiro having been despatched off after solely 13 minutes at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Przemyslaw Frankowski and Quentin Merlin scored for the guests both facet of the break, as Rennes consolidated sixth place.

Lyon saved up their very own top-four ambitions with a 3-1 win at Monaco, who completed with 10 males after Mamadou Coulibaly was despatched off with 20 minutes left – the midfielder having earlier equalised forward of the break.

Strasbourg’s supervisor, Liam Rosenior – closely linked with the Chelsea job – noticed his facet pegged again as Good got here from behind to attract 1-1 on the Allianz Riviera, leaving the hosts with out a win in 5 league video games.