Key points:
- Memphis Depay gave Barcelona the lead from the get-go in the subsequent half.
- New Barcelona supervisor Xavi praised his first game in control at the Nou Camp with a thin derby triumph over Espanyol in La Liga.
Albeit the home fans had the option to guarantee boasting privileges over their city matches, the guests could undoubtedly have dominated the match having squandered various possibilities in the subsequent half.
Xavi, at last, saw his side start to lead the pack seconds after the restart through a Memphis Depay punishment.
The success places Barca 6th in the table.
Xavi, who played 767 matches and dominated 25 titles with the Catalan monsters in his 17 years in the main group, needed to stand by about fourteen days to assume control at the club he calls “home” because of the worldwide break.
The Spaniard saw his side make an opening following 13 minutes after Jordi Alba’s low cross was met by 17-year-old debutant Ilias Akhomach however the youngster impacted his shot high and wide over the crossbar.
The hosts kept on applying strain on Espanyol yet endeavours by Sergio Busquets, Depay and the noteworthy Gavi were either not taken or saved by goalkeeper Diego Lopez.
A leap forward for Barca at long last came when Leandro Cabrera cut down Depay on 46 minutes. The Netherlands forward sent Lopez the incorrect method for placing the host group in charge.
Notwithstanding, Barca couldn’t overwhelm similarly they had done in the primary half and as the clock tick towards full time, Espanyol abruptly tried their insecure protection.
Raul de Tomas, who was the away side’s best player, first watched a free-kick cut goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen’s right-hand post before going behind, and afterwards, a plain header struck a similar spot four minutes after the fact.
Landry Dimata was likewise left in shock as he was given sections of land of room inside the Barca punishment region, just for his header to go well wide – doubtlessly stirring up a lot of misery for administrator Vicente Moreno.
Next up for new Barca manager Xavi is a fundamental Champions League bunch game against Benfica on Tuesday. The Catalan monsters will get their spot in the knockout stages if they beat the Portuguese side at the Nou Camp.
