Three talking points from Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol as Hansi Flick’s side go nine points clear

After a devastating first leg defeat within the Champions League quarter-final towards Atletico Madrid, it was again right down to enterprise in La Liga for Barcelona.

With Actual Madrid having solely drawn at dwelling to Girona on Friday night time, Barca would have the prospect to go 9 factors clear on the prime of the desk with a win within the Catalan derby towards Espanyol, a workforce that got here into the sport with no win in 13 league video games (L8, D5).

It’s Los Periquitos’ worst run since February 2009, and Barca would prolong their report of H2H unbeaten video games to 30 in the event that they averted defeat at Camp Nou.

Provided that Hansi Flick’s aspect had gained all 15 earlier dwelling matches this season, with 10 of the final 11 being by a 2+ aim margin, the sport was there for the taking.

Let’s check out three speaking factors from the match…

Ferran lastly ends aim drought

It’s taken two and a half months, however how good was it to see Ferran again on the scoresheet once more?

As all strikers do at intervals of their careers, he’s gone by a barren patch in entrance of aim, although his brace on Saturday provides him 14 league objectives for the season.

While it’s true that Espanyol had been probably the most accommodating of opponents for lengthy intervals, Ferran has struggled in different video games the place Barca had been properly on prime, so the shortage of battle from Los Periquitos shouldn’t actually be used as an excuse to justify why he scored.

Has he carried out sufficient this season to earn himself a spot within the squad in 26/27? Maybe that’s a query that will probably be definitively answered over the remaining video games. In any case, his return to goalscoring type comes at time.

Is Gavi worthy of a beginning spot?

It was incredible to see Gavi again within the beginning XI after so lengthy, and one other all-action efficiency earned him the plaudits from these within the stadium.

A silly yellow card acquired – maybe unfairly – tempered his physicality thereafter, although, like Fermin, Gavi’s will to win does give the workforce one thing further.

The problem is whether or not that’s sufficient to make sure he takes up a kind of beginning midfield spots week in and week out.

As soon as upon a time, he would’ve been a shoo-in alongside Pedri, however different choices for Hansi Flick – and the truth that he’s nonetheless on his means again from a protracted lay-off – imply {that a} begin for Gavi is now not assured.

To say that the win was a reduction recognises that Barca had been near throwing this one away in the course of the second half.

On the steadiness of play in the complete recreation, the scoreline was arguably a good reflection, although there was actually a interval the place a second Espanyol aim may’ve put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Lamine Yamal as soon as once more proved essential on his one centesimal La Liga look and helped end off Espanyol, together with essential contributions from substitutes Marcus Rashford, Marc Casado and Frenkie de Jong.

Finally, Barca go 9 factors forward of Actual Madrid, and that, frankly, is all that issues at this level of the season.