Memphis Depay gives the victory to FC Barcelona over Espanyol, in Xavi Hernández’s debut as a coach

Barça did not shine, but the staging of the first game of Xavi Hernández on the bench explained a change in the way of doing and an increase in the mood of the Barça team, which was confirmed with the 1-0 victory against Espanyol at the Camp Nou with a goal from Memphis Depay from a penalty as soon as the second half begins.

If the Guardiola era began with a 1-0 defeat against Numancia, Xavi’s has done so with a triumph in a Barcelona derby in which there were first indications of what this Barça intends to do: dominate the rival with the possession of the ball, press high and increase the intensity of the game.

The Control of the ball was completely from Barça from the beginning, who moved him from one side to the other against a closed Espanyol, imposing the way of understanding Xavi’s football, which was chanted by the Camp Nou on several occasions.

Another concept that the Barça team put into practice was high pressure, exemplified by Nico González in the 15th minute when he advanced to David López in the front of the Espanyol area when receiving a loose pass from Diego López. But the youth squad lost the ball too long and the blue and white goalkeeper was able to solve the urgency.

For its part, Espanyol tried to do damage through timid counterattacks commanded by Sergi Darder, who looked for the references of Raúl de Tomás and Embarba, two islands that failed to harm Ter Stegen.

Everything changed as soon as the second part started. When the first minute of play had not yet been played, Gavi leaked a ball into the area for Memphis, which, in the judgment of the referee, He was shot down by Cabrera when he was already facing Diego López. The same Dutch striker was in charge of turning the penalty into a goal, much protested by the Espanyol players, with a powerful shot.

In the 67th minute, Espanyol finally managed to generate a dangerous counterattack. Raúl de Tomás was faster than Piqué and Mingueza to stay alone against Ter Stegen, but his shot went slightly off the right side of the goal.

Landry Dimata had in his head the best opportunity of the match for Espanyol in the 83rd minute. When the visitors were already calling the tie, the Belgian striker sent his shot from the front of the small area to the left of a Ter Stegen that nothing could have been do if the ball had gone between the three sticks.

On the next play, another header, from Raúl de Tomás, was repelled by a post.

Despite this final blue and white siege, for the fourteenth consecutive game, Barça beat Espanyol at the Camp Nou and the balance in this stretch of matches is already 41 local goals and only 3 visitors. The Xavi era begins with joy for the Barça fans, which allows the team to climb to sixth place (20) and sends Espanyol to eleventh (17). (D)