European football: García back to haunt Espanyol as Barcelona go seven clear

The Barcelona manager Hansi Flick hailed Joan García as one of the best goalkeepers in the world after the former Espanyol player delivered a decisive performance against his old club in the Catalan derby on Saturday.

García was instrumental in Barcelona’s 2-0 victory, producing a series of outstanding saves, with the league leaders extending their lead at the top of the La Liga standings to seven points.

“The first thing I have to do is thank Joan García,” Flick said. “He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We suffered, but we took the three points and that is the message we send to La Liga.“

Flick praised the goalkeeper’s composure, particularly given the hostile reception he faced on his return to the RCDE Stadium, where he had previously come through the ranks. “Fantastic,” the German manager said when asked about García’s mental strength. “I think he will not forget what he lived here, because he played for Espanyol and they gave him his opportunity. Now he plays for us, and he was one of the reasons for the win.”

García was jeered from the warmup, with banners aimed at him displayed in the stands, including images of rats and mock banknotes bearing his face. Flick said the 24-year-old appeared unaffected before kickoff.

Flick’s men looked to have been frustrated as they aimed to extend a winning run of eight league games against an Espanyol side who had recorded five straight victories themselves.

Substitute Dani Olmo, though, finally broke the deadlock with a cool finish and then Robert Lewandowski, having also come off the bench, wrapped things up in the 90th minute to leave Barça further clear of Real, who host Real Betis on Sunday.

Villarreal sit third after a 3-1 win at Elche, taking control with early goals from Alberto Moleiro and Georges Mikautadze before Alfonso Pedraza made sure late on.

Juventus’s Serie A title hopes were dealt a blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by relegation-battling Lecce on Saturday, with the hosts coming from behind but failing to win after Jonathan David had a Panenka-style penalty saved.

Juventus are fourth on 33 points, five off the leaders, Milan, who have played a game less. Lecce are 16th on 17 points, five points above the relegation zone.

The home side dominated the opening half, creating a host of chances but went in behind at the break after Lameck Banda pounced on a wayward pass to give Lecce the lead on the stroke of half-time. Juventus equalised four minutes after the break, Yildiz’s shot taking a deflection and the ball falling to Weston McKennie who fired past Falcone. Lecce faced wave after wave of Juventus attacks and the visitors conceded a penalty for Mohamed Kaba’s handball in blocking David’s shot.

Yildiz handed the ball to David but the Canada forward sent a tame Panenka-style effort down the middle and the diving Falcone had time to raise his foot to make the save. “David is a penalty taker, he strikes them very well and he made the right choice,” said the Juventus manager, Luciano Spalletti.

“Penalties get missed. If someone else had missed, it would have been the same. Next time I’ll probably step in too, because I like making decisions, but these things happen during a match. It wasn’t a favour just to let him score, he has to score because he’s the penalty taker.”

Falcone denied David a late winner with a fine save, Yildiz hit the post in added time and the final whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the Juventus fans.

There was no happy homecoming for Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini as his side lost 1-0 at his former club Atalanta, with the visitors in danger of losing touch in the Serie A title race after a fourth loss in six games. Gasperini spent nine seasons at Atalanta but his first return to Bergamo ended in disappointment and Roma slip to fifth, level on 33 points with fourth-placed Juventus and five behind leaders Milan who have played one game fewer.

Atalanta, who move to eighth in the standings on 25 points, took a 12th-minute lead when Giorgio Scalvini bundled the ball over the line from a corner and the hosts had another first-half goal ruled out for offside. Roma, outplayed for much of the opening half, improved after the break but failed to find an equaliser which would have earned Gasperini’s side their first draw of the season across all competitions.

In Ligue 1, Lille saw their winning run end in a 2-0 home defeat by Rennes, with defender Alexsandro Ribeiro having been sent off after only 13 minutes at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Przemyslaw Frankowski and Quentin Merlin scored for the visitors either side of the break, as Rennes consolidated sixth place.

Lyon kept up their own top-four ambitions with a 3-1 win at Monaco, who finished with 10 men after Mamadou Coulibaly was sent off with 20 minutes left – the midfielder having earlier equalised ahead of the break.

Strasbourg’s manager, Liam Rosenior – heavily linked with the Chelsea job – saw his side pegged back as Nice came from behind to draw 1-1 at the Allianz Riviera, leaving the hosts without a win in five league games.

[Source: The Guardian]