Barcelona vs. Espanyol score, stats, talking points, highlights, result as Lamine Yamal stars in La Liga win

By | April 11, 2026
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After Real Madrid left the door open yesterday, Barcelona emphatically walked through it and put one hand on the La Liga title as the Blaugrana won Saturday’s Catalan derby over Espanyol by a 4-1 score.

Lamine Yamal was the star of the day, providing two assists — both to Ferran Torres to end his lengthy goal drought — while scoring himself in the victory.

The Blaugrana thrust themselves a full nine points ahead of Real Madrid with seven games to play, after Los Blancos were held to a 1-1 draw with Girona yesterday to put their title challenge on life support.

Barcelona dominated the first half completely, holding 81 percent possession and heading into the dressing room with an emphatic 2-0 lead. However, Hansi Flick’s plans to rest his stars ahead of the Champions League match coming up as Espanyol made it 2-1 on a goal from Pol Lozano before the hour mark.

That forced Flick to keep his stars in the game as long as needed, until Lamine’s strike in the 87th minute sealed the result and Marcus Rashford iced the cake two minutes later.

Barcelona now turn their focus to the critical Champions League quarterfinal visit to Atletico Madrid coming up, as the Blaugrana trail 2-0 on aggregate after a first leg defeat at home.

Espanyol, meanwhile, slump to their 14th straight game without a win, firmly stuck in the doldrums of the mid-table after spending the first half of the season challenging for a European place.

Barcelona vs. Espanyol final score

Location: Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain)
Referee: Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez

Starting lineups:

Barcelona (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. J. Garcia (GK) — 4. Araujo, 5. Cubarsi, 18. Martin (Casado, 46′), 3. Balde (Cancelo, 64′) — 24. E. Garcia, 8. Pedri — 10. Lamine Yamal, 6. Gavi (Rashford, 64′), 16. F. Lopez (de Jong, 84′) — 7. F. Torres (Olmo, 74′).

Espanyol (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. Dmitrovic (GK) — 23. El Hilali, 5. Calero, 6. Cabrera, 22. Romero — 10. Lozano (Pickel, 80′), 4. U. Gonzalez — 16. Ngonge (R. Sanchez, 64′), 8. Exposito (Terrats, 71′), 24. Dolan (R. Fernandez, 46′) — 19. K. Garcia (Milla, 71′).

MORE: An up-to-date list of the La Liga top goal scorers for the 2025/26 season

Barcelona vs. Espanyol stats

Barcelona Stat Espanyol
20 Shots 10
10 Shots on target 2
2.81 Expected goals 1.17
77% Possession 23%
673 Accurate passes 148
7 Corners 5
10 Fouls 18
3 Yellow cards 6

Barcelona vs. Espanyol key moments

FULLTIME: Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol

While it may feel like the scoreline flatters Barcelona a bit after they were put under significant pressure in the second half, in truth they deserved this victory after a dominating performance on the whole.

Lamine Yamal was outstanding once again, and Ferran Torres will relish his opportunity to end his lengthy goal drought. Barcelona have one hand on the La Liga title!

89th min: GOAL! BARCELONA! MARCUS RASHFORD PUTS THE CHERRY ON TOP! It’s a glorious goal little flicked goal!

Lamine Yamal’s vertical ball sends Frenkie de Jong in on the edge of the six-yard box, and after sitting on the ball for a moment to allow reinforcements to arrive, he flicks it to Rashford from eight yards out who pokes the ball inside the near post past a rooted Dmitrovic!

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87th min: GOAL! BARCELONA! LAMINE YAMAL IS THE STAR OF THE DAY AND HE GETS A DESERVED GOAL! It seals the win for Barcelona!

It comes off a hilarious mistake by Marko Dmitrovic who comes out of the penalty area to contest the long-ball from Marc Casado, and swings his foot to boot the ball away…but completely whiffs! That allows Lamine to walk the ball into the open net!

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56th min: GOAL! ESPANYOL! THE VISITORS ARE BACK IN IT AFTER A FOLLOW-UP GOAL BY POL LOZANO!

A cross from the right falls to the head of Kike Garcia who flubs the chance a bit, seeing it blocked. The rebound falls into no-man’s land atop the penalty area, where Lozano comes charging onto the loose ball in acres of space and buries the chance past Joan Garcia!

2nd half kickoff: The ball is rolling for the second half! Indeed as we thought, Gerard Martin has been withdrawn due to injury, with Marc Casado taking over in midfield, moving Eric Garcia back to defence. Espanyol also make a change, as Tyrhys Dolan makes way for Roberto Fernandez in the attack.

HALFTIME: Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol

It has been one-way traffic through the first 45 minutes of this Catalan derby, as Barcelona lead by two goals at the break. Ferran Torres has both finishes, on a pair of exceptional assists from Lamine Yamal.

Barcelona have held an astonishing 81 percent possession, and have held Espanyol to just two shots worth 0.19 xG compared to 12 shots for 1.08 xG of their own.

The only blemish for Barcelona is that Gerard Martin seems to have picked up a non-contact injury, and while he tried to continue on through the latter portion of the second half, he was noticeably limping and could be substituted off at halftime.

25th min: GOAL! BARCELONA! IT’S FERRAN TORRES AGAIN! The Barcelona striker has a brace as he delivers a slow-roller into the back of the net past an onrushing Dmitrovic! He’s been threaded through by a wonderful Lamine Yamal delivery with the outside of his foot!

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10th min: GOAL! BARCELONA! FERRAN TORRES HEADS IN THE OPENER FROM A CORNER! Barcelona are in front not 10 full minutes into the game!

It’s a first league goal for Ferran Torres in 13 matches since January, his drought is over! He looks a relieved figure as he celebrates his goal.

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KICKOFF: They’re under way in Barcelona! Can the Blaugrana bury Real Madrid in the La Liga title race, or will the quest remain open a little longer?

Lineups: The starting XI’s are in! For Barcelona, Lamine Yamal starts while many expected him to be rotated today. Ferran Torres leads the attacking line, and Gerard Martin gets the start along the back which is interesting because Alex Balde also starts, meaning it will be Ronald Araujo at left-back with Martin in the middle.

It’s a surprise that Rashford is not in the lineup, as we thought he would be continuing on the left wing, but it’s likely that Fermin Lopez will shift out wide with the England international rested.

Prematch: It will be interesting to see how many players are rested by Hansi Flick today, with the cushion in the La Liga table potentially allowing him to rotate a host of his regular starters.

One player who is likely to take the field, however, is Marcus Rashford, who has taken over for Raphinha while the Brazilian recovers from a hamstring injury. Rashford is playing for his place in the Barcelona squad, as the Catalan giants decide whether to pay big money to retain him beyond this season or send him back to Manchester United at the end of his season-long loan.

Barcelona vs. Espanyol talking points, analysis

Following the game, this section will be updated with analysis of the Barcelona vs. Espanyol match.

Barcelona vs. Espanyol reaction

Following the game, this section will be updated with post-match reaction from Hansi Flick and Manolo Gonzalez as well as various players.

Barcelona vs. Espanyol team news

Barcelona team news

MORE: An in-depth rundown of all the latest Barcelona team news and injuries

  • Defensive midfielder Marc Bernal, who has grown into a starting role this season, is out with a thigh injury.
  • Frenkie de Jong is back in the Barcelona squad after missing time due to injury, and is likely to get minutes today as he works back to full fitness.
  • Star winger Raphinha picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty in late March, and is expected to miss most or all of April as a result.

Espanyol team news

  • Defender Clemens Riedel is suspended for this match due to yellow card accumulation.
  • Twenty-seven-year-old winger Javi Puado tore his ACL in January and will be out for the rest of the season.

Barcelona, Espanyol upcoming schedules

Barcelona upcoming fixtures

Date Competition Match Location
Tue, Apr. 14 Champions League Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona Metropolitano (Madrid, Spain)
Wed, Apr. 22 La Liga Barcelona vs. Celta Vigo Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain)
Sat, Apr. 25 La Liga Getafe vs. Barcelona Estadio Coliseum (Getafe, Spain)

Espanyol upcoming fixtures

Date Competition Match Location
Thu, Apr. 23 La Liga Rayo Vallecano vs. Espanyol Estadio de Vallecas (Madrid, Spain)
Mon, Apr. 27 La Liga Espanyol vs. Levante RCDE Stadium (Barcelona, Spain)
Sun, May 3 La Liga Espanyol vs. Real Madrid RCDE Stadium (Barcelona, Spain)

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