Barcelona achieved a new scoring record with a 3-1 victory over Espanyol in the 12th round of La Liga, held at the “Luis Companys Olympic” stadium. Dani Olmo spearheaded the attack, scoring twice in the 12th and 31st minutes, with Rafinha adding another goal in the 23rd minute. Espanyol managed to narrow the deficit when Javier Boadu found the net in the 63rd minute.
With this win, Barcelona retained their stronghold at the top of the La Liga standings, accumulating 33 points and creating a nine-point gap over their main rivals, Real Madrid, who hold the second spot with 24 points.
In other developments, a report from Catalan sports outlet Sport highlighted that Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong has grown increasingly frustrated due to limited starting opportunities.
De Jong reportedly approached head coach Hansi Flick after the Espanyol game to inquire about his future in the starting lineup. However, the response from Flick was unexpected and disappointing for the Dutchman.
Flick explained that de Jong’s current lack of playing time was a result of the stellar performances by Barcelona’s rising star Marc Casado. Flick acknowledged Casado’s impressive form and stated that Casado’s performances left him with little choice but to prioritize the young talent in the starting lineup.
The candid response from Flick, emphasizing Casado’s “legendary” level of play, signaled to de Jong that he would need to accept this situation for the time being. This frank discussion highlighted the internal competition within Barcelona’s squad, as the team continues to nurture and rely on emerging talent to strengthen their dominance in La Liga.
With players like Casado stepping up in crucial roles, Barcelona’s strategy seems focused on fostering young talent while continuing to secure their position at the top of Spanish football.
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