Jul 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; FC Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele (7) celebrates with FC Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong (21) and FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde (23) after scoring a goal during the first half against Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Barcelona Vs Espanyol: Garcia’s Great Return

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Stefania Zajdel | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 9:11 AM ET

After the Christmas break, La Liga is back, this time with a tense Barcelona derby. FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona were set to face each other for the first time this season, on the latter team’s turf. To make things even more interesting, the game marked the first time Joan Garcia returned to the stadium after his transfer.

Underwhelming Start

The game started with relatively little action. Barcelona and Espanyol were equalized, with both teams showing good attacks and defences. Still, neither team was able to finish an action with a goal. For quite a long time, the score was stuck at 0-0. Even the five minutes that were added to the first half weren’t enough for the pace to pick up.

During the first half, Garcia was one of Barcelona’s best players. To the disappointment of the home crowd, he put his all into defending Espanyol’s attempts. The insults thrown at him by people who used to cheer him on didn’t make his concentration waver.

Game-Long Standstill

Espanyol started the second half stronger than their Catalan neighbors. Spurred on by their fans, they pressed Barcelona, always quick to return to their half. A few times, they posed a real threat to the team’s winning streak, but Garcia never disappointed. His incredible saves rescued his team from a disappointing result. The same could be said about Marko Dmitrović, Espanyol’s goalkeeper, who also put in more work than any other player.

Jul 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; FC Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez Martin (29) celebrates with FC Barcelona forward Ansu Fati (10) after scoring a goal during the second half against Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Barcelona’s Rise To The Top

In the end, it was Dani Olmo who became Barcelona’s saviour. Only a few minutes before the end of the game, he received the ball from Fermin Lopez and sent it straight to Espanyol’s net. It was an unsaveable shot that put his team in the lead.

This wasn’t the end of Barcelona’s good streak. Not long after the opening goal, the team increased the advantage. Once again, it was Lopez who noted an assist. This time, he helped the Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski, add another goal to his tally. With that, La Liga’s leaders secured yet another victory in their 2025/26 campaign.

End Of My Barcelona Rant

Although the game wasn’t as exciting as many fans may have hoped, it was enough to give Barcelona the coveted three points. With that, the team kept their La Liga lead. Garcia became the meeting’s best player, rubbing salt in Espanyol’s wounds.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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