Yamal 9.5, Christensen 8.5 | Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona: Player ratings | OneFootball

A tense affair between FC Barcelona and Espanyol ends up in victory for Hansi Flick’s team. La Blaugrana fought hard from start to finish and ultimately ended with all three points. With this massive victory, Barcelona are now finally the official champions of La Liga.

For the Catalan giants, this match was about much more than just the three points. Beyond just getting to win the league title, it was about sending a message and proving that the team is well and truly the best team in Spain. Thanks to Lamine Yamal’s extraordinary goal and a strike from Fermin Lopez near the end, that objective to prove themselves is now finally complete.

Here are the player ratings for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona from this game.

Player Ratings:

Wojciech Szczesny: 9.0

Strong first half from the Polish goalkeeper, who had to make a big save and also had to come off his line to stop Espanyol from getting more great opportunities at his goal. Continued that excellent performance into the second half as well.

Eric Garcia: 7.0

Did well defensively and passed the ball around well with the likes of Lamine Yamal, but seemed to be quite restricted today. In the second half, however, the game started to open up for him a bit.

Ronald Araujo: 6.0

Not as comfortable on the ball as Hansi Flick would have ideally liked, but did well enough to get in position in time and intercept some dangerous passes and chances. Replaced early in the second half due to some discomfort.

Andreas Christensen: 8.5

Undoubtedly the best defensive performer of the first half for Barcelona, the Danish defender had some big moments. From his crucial tackles to the runs he made to track back, Christensen had a very strong first half. His second half, however, was just as good if not better.

Gerard Martin: 5.5

Looked uncomfortable on the ball and that left flank barely had any offensive progression during the first half. Was replaced at halftime by Alejandro Balde.

Frenkie de Jong: 8.0

A commander in the Barcelona midfield, and it was clear to see that this game meant a lot to the Dutchman. Every mistake that he made or his teammates made, Frenkie de Jong got visibly frustrated and it just showed the commitment and dedication he has to this team.

Pedri: 8.5

Brilliant performance from Pedri, who controlled the tempo of the game expertly well. Always a step ahead of his opponents, the Spaniard was simply too quick in both footwork and mental work for the opposition to catch up to him in this game.

Lamine Yamal: 9.5

Simply out of this world. There are no adjectives or words to perfectly describe the goal scored by Lamine Yamal in this game. Breezing past a few defenders before finding the perfect top corner finish from outside the box. Moreover, he frustrated an Espanyol defender to the point of getting struck by him and it resulting in the opposition player getting sent off as well. Also provided the assist for Fermin Lopez’s goal.

Lamine Yamal was simply out of this world for Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Dani Olmo: 8.5

Excellent performance from the Spaniard, who finally seems to have found his rhythm again. Sharp with his touches and aware of his teammates, he also provided the assist that led to Lamine Yamal’s extraordinary goal.

Raphinha: 6.5

Quiet game from the Brazilian forward, who was heavily marked and restricted throughout the game. However, his involvement in the game definitely improved when Alejandro Balde came on in the second half.

Robert Lewandowski: 6.0

Was decent in terms of his hold-up play, but did not have his usual striker’s instinct in front of goal. Ultimately, Robert Lewandowski ended his time on the pitch without a goal.

Substitutes:

Alejandro Balde: 7.0

Brilliant entry from the Spaniard, who added a lot of width and energy from the left flank. Solid performance from him.

Pau Cubarsi: 7.0

Replaced Ronald Araujo and added his typical composure on the ball. Good performance from the young Spanish centre-back.

Fermin Lopez: 8.0

The Spaniard was electric, and he topped off his late appearance in this game with a late goal at the end of the game.

Gavi: 6.5

Added some much-needed intensity in a game where Espanyol wanted to push for a goal near the end.