Robert Lewandowski has been in great form, scoring twice in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Real Madrid on October 26, 2024. EPA
Robert Lewandowski has been in great form, scoring twice in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Real Madrid on October 26, 2024. EPA
Robert Lewandowski has been in great form, scoring twice in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Real Madrid on October 26, 2024. EPA
Robert Lewandowski has been in great form, scoring twice in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Real Madrid on October 26, 2024. EPA

Sport

Football

Barcelona look to open huge gap as Real Madrid match in Valencia postponed due to deadly flooding

Hansi Flick's side riding high at the top of La Liga ahead of Catalan Derby against Espanyol

The National

November 01, 2024

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La Liga leaders Barcelona have the chance to move nine points clear of Real Madrid this weekend when they take on city rivals Espanyol in the Catalan derby.

Hansi Flick's side enter the derby with confidence sky high after thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 last week to open up a six-point lead over their arch rivals.

Madrid's game at Valencia has been postponed after deadly flooding in the region, along with nearby Villarreal's game against Rayo Vallecano.

The derby offers Barcelona a chance to flex their muscles in front of their home fans after romping past the champions at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend.

Barca thrashed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Uefa Champions League before that and Flick, who arrived this summer to replace Xavi at the helm, said the key to his team's form is the good atmosphere at the club.

Clasico player ratings

BARCELONA RATINGS: He’s unlikely to stay Barcelona’s ‘keeper for much longer, but great save from Bellingham on 14' – though Madrid’s move was offside. Denied Mbappe three times as Barca opened a six-point gap at the top. Top performance. Booked. AP
BARCELONA RATINGS: He’s unlikely to stay Barcelona’s ‘keeper for much longer, but great save from Bellingham on 14' – though Madrid’s move was offside. Denied Mbappe three times as Barca opened a six-point gap at the top. Top performance. Booked. AP
Complained – rightly – to Raphinha when he didn’t pass to him in space in a rare first half chance. But what a night in his manager’s first clasico. Stunning cross for Lewandowski’s headed goal. AP
Complained – rightly – to Raphinha when he didn’t pass to him in space in a rare first half chance. But what a night in his manager’s first clasico. Stunning cross for Lewandowski’s headed goal. AP
Comfortable in the Catalans' extremely high defensive line which caught Madrid offside seven times in the first half – Mbappe was offside in six of them. Madrid were offside 12 times in total, Barcelona just one. Booked. Getty Images
Comfortable in the Catalans' extremely high defensive line which caught Madrid offside seven times in the first half – Mbappe was offside in six of them. Madrid were offside 12 times in total, Barcelona just one. Booked. Getty Images
Confident enough to play Madrid offside in tight circumstances as Barca’s offside trap worked perfectly. No team uses the offside as a weapon like Flick’s side – and they use it decisively. AFP
Confident enough to play Madrid offside in tight circumstances as Barca’s offside trap worked perfectly. No team uses the offside as a weapon like Flick’s side – and they use it decisively. AFP
The right back started slowly and was bullied by Camavinga and Mbappe but then settled and played his part in the Catalans offside masterclass. Booked for a late flip on Vinicius. Getty Images
The right back started slowly and was bullied by Camavinga and Mbappe but then settled and played his part in the Catalans offside masterclass. Booked for a late flip on Vinicius. Getty Images
His pass split Madrid defence and found Lewandowski to open the scoring as Madrid’s 42 game unbeaten run came to an end. Booked. Getty Images
His pass split Madrid defence and found Lewandowski to open the scoring as Madrid’s 42 game unbeaten run came to an end. Booked. Getty Images
Tenacious, winning the ball back – before he went down with a twisted ankle on 23'. Jumped up to shoot on target on 28'. Moved into the more advanced role to replace Fermin for the second half. Then he dropped again when Olmo came on. Getty Images
Tenacious, winning the ball back – before he went down with a twisted ankle on 23'. Jumped up to shoot on target on 28'. Moved into the more advanced role to replace Fermin for the second half. Then he dropped again when Olmo came on. Getty Images
Barca’s first shot on target after 12'. Got the third, a right foot rising finish from a tight angle on 78' – his first clasico goal. Such confidence to try anything at such a young age. Unstoppable. AP
Barca’s first shot on target after 12'. Got the third, a right foot rising finish from a tight angle on 78' – his first clasico goal. Such confidence to try anything at such a young age. Unstoppable. AP
Only 16 touches in the first half – low for a central player and he was replaced by De Jong at the break. Missed out on the goal fest: Barcelona’s goal difference is +27, Madrid’s is +10. Barcelona have score 21 in their last five games. Getty Images
Only 16 touches in the first half – low for a central player and he was replaced by De Jong at the break. Missed out on the goal fest: Barcelona’s goal difference is +27, Madrid’s is +10. Barcelona have score 21 in their last five games. Getty Images
No hat-trick like he did against Bayern but another top performance. Shot well over on 20' when he could have played Balde in. Physically strong, never stopped running – Barca run more under Flick. Helped Barca counter, set up Lewandowski. Then he got the fourth. AP
No hat-trick like he did against Bayern but another top performance. Shot well over on 20' when he could have played Balde in. Physically strong, never stopped running – Barca run more under Flick. Helped Barca counter, set up Lewandowski. Then he got the fourth. AP
Aged 36, La Liga’s top scorer was tightly marked and had limited service in the first half (just nine touches), but he put his side ahead on 53', staying onside to score from 20 yards – his 13th goal of the season. Then he made it 2-0 two minutes later, a header. Hit the post on 65', then blasted a chance over on 68'. Impeccable timing in his positioning. Reuters
Aged 36, La Liga’s top scorer was tightly marked and had limited service in the first half (just nine touches), but he put his side ahead on 53', staying onside to score from 20 yards – his 13th goal of the season. Then he made it 2-0 two minutes later, a header. Hit the post on 65', then blasted a chance over on 68'. Impeccable timing in his positioning. Reuters
SUBS: De Jong (Fermin, HT). More involved than Fermin as Barca’s confidence grew. An effective sub against Bayern and Madrid – two incredible results for Barcelona. AP
SUBS: De Jong (Fermin, HT). More involved than Fermin as Barca’s confidence grew. An effective sub against Bayern and Madrid – two incredible results for Barcelona. AP
(Casado 64') Needed. Linked better, improved his side. Goalkeeper Pena said that Barcelona should have been weaker in the second half after Wednesday’s efforts. They were stronger. EPA
(Casado 64') Needed. Linked better, improved his side. Goalkeeper Pena said that Barcelona should have been weaker in the second half after Wednesday’s efforts. They were stronger. EPA
(Pedri 86') The seventh Barcelona player aged 21 and under. EPA
(Pedri 86') The seventh Barcelona player aged 21 and under. EPA

"When I started with my team, and all the experts, and [sporting director] Deco and the president [Joan Laporta], we said we have to build an atmosphere where the players can show their best performance," explained the coach after thrashing Madrid.

"The atmosphere is really good and the mentality in the team is really outstanding."

Barcelona have won 10 matches in La Liga and lost just once in their first 11 games, as well as inflicting Madrid's first defeat in the Spanish top flight in over a year.

Flick's players are thriving under the German, with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski in sensational form up front, flanked by teenage star Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in the form of his career.

Only two teams have conceded more than Espanyol in La Liga and their visit to the Olympic stadium offers Barcelona a chance to keep adding to their table-topping tally of 37 goals scored.

Lewandowski, 36, struck twice in the Clasico and has 14 league goals. The forward looks back to his best after struggling to make an impact last season.

Flick operates with a high defensive line which appears risky at times but helped them defeat both Bayern and Spanish and European champions Madrid.

"We keep going with our idea, we have a flow at the moment and we have to keep going," said Flick.

"[The strategy] looks dangerous, but it's not dangerous."

Espanyol, 17th, usually relish the chance to cause trouble for their city rivals but Barcelona's ruthless form makes this derby an especially daunting challenge.

Former Espanyol president Joan Collet, who led the club between 2012 and 2016, was especially pessimistic.

"Unfortunately I see very little chance of winning, I will not think about or watch the match," he told Radio Despi.

"I will disappear off the map, I will turn off my phone and when it's over I will see what happened.

"It's not that I have no hope, it's that they've taken all my hope away."

Elsewhere Atletico Madrid, fourth, will look to arrest their recent slump at home against lowly Las Palmas, who are 18th.

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