Five in Cornella too! (1-5)

Barcelona (FCB).- No other team had managed even a draw at Espanyol so far this season, indeed no visiting team had even gone ahead, but Guardiola’s team put on another display of brilliant football, first hitting the hosts with a series of counters and then finishing them off as they were forced to open up their game.

Pedro (2), Xavi and Villa (2) got the goals in what was Barça’s biggest score against their city neighbours and silenced the home crowd who’d been hostile throughput, with the only truce allowed for Iniesta in recognition for his famous salute to Jarque in South Africa.

Pedro silences the home crowd

Espanyol had hoped to frighten Barça from the start, beginning the game with a lot of pressing  and a high intensity game which made it hard for the visitors to play their usual possession style. It was high risk stuff from Pochettino’s team and they were nearly caught out when they tried to play the ball out from the back and Alves and Messi both had good chances before Pedro got on the end of a quick counter led by Messi to fire past Kameni for the opener.

Second goal from a counter

Espanyol were unhappy with the first goal as they felt there had been an earlier foul on Callejon and they were clearly rocked by going behind. Their attempts to push forward for an equaliser left spaces down the flanks for Villa, Pedro and Alves to exploit, though it was Xavi who made it two, rounding off a stunning counter attack on the half hour –again to much protesting from the home players.

Valdés pulled off a great save from Callejon when the Espanyol striker was through on goal  and Barça were able to go in with a comfortable two goal lead at the break.

Two goals in three minutes

Guardiola’s men waited patiently at the start of the second half as Espanyol attempted to get back into the game, and were rewarded with another goal from Pedro after a piece of brilliance form Messi. Espanyol gave their fans a glimmer of hope when they almost immediately pulled a goal back through Osvaldo. The game had gone from 0-2 to 1-3 in just three minutes of typical derby excitement.

Villa rounds it off

Barça weren’t going to let the game get away from them though and as Espanyol surged forward, Villa took advantage of the gaps left in the hosts defence and got the fourth and fifth. In truth, it could have been even more, as Barça had so many chances, but finally it was five –yet again!

 

THE DETAIL

Goals

0-1, Pedro (min 19

0-2, Xavi (min 30)

0-3, Pedro (min 60)

1-3, Osvaldo (min 62)

1-4, Villa (min 75)

1-5, Villa (min 84)