Luuk de Jong proved once again worth gold for Barcelona on Sunday evening. The striker did exactly what was expected of him in the city derby against Espanyol by heading in the equalizer as a late substitute: 2-2. At the time, Barca appeared to be going under due to a crucial covering error by Eric García, who gave the 2-1 away to Espanyol.
Xavi was forced to make one change after the great win against Atlético Madrid (4-2). Dani Alves was suspended in the top match after his red card and was replaced by Sergiño Dest. Everything else remained the same: Frenkie de Jong started again in the starting line-up, Luuk de Jong was brought in as a battering ram in the 89th minute. At Espanyol, winter asset Tonny Vilhena started in the starting line-up for the second time in a row.
There’s RDT! † A good pass from the back and an icy cool finish by Espanyol striker Raúl de Tomás ?? Barça in trouble again, 2-1! † Espanyol ?? Barcelona ? Now live! † Ziggo Sport (channel 14 & Select) #ZiggoSport #LaLiga #EspanyolBarca pic.twitter.com/hcmB3BUvYV
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 13, 2022
After 74 seconds the ball was in the net for Espanyol, when Pedri reacted alertly at the far post and a cross from Jordi Alba slid in: 0-1. The initiative fell to Barcelona, which created danger mainly through Adama Traoré. The right striker checked Gavi’s cross on the chest after more than half an hour and had a clear shot, but shot straight at Diego López. Shortly afterwards, Ferran Torres headed over in free position.
Almost out of nowhere Espanyol equalized five minutes before half time. Sergi Darder got some space at sixteen meters from the goal and placed the ball perfectly in the far bottom corner: 1-1. Barça started a search for a new lead in the second half and seemed to succeed in that mission after just under an hour. Pedri found the ball after a choked shot by Alba back in the crowds and pushed off, but Frenkie de Jong turned out to have been unluckily offside: no valid goal.
† † Luuk de Jong saves a point for Barcelona in the very last minute on a visit to Espanyol! †#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #EspanyolBarça pic.twitter.com/vm0vcLkOMH
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 13, 2022
Xavi made an attacking change and brought in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Frenkie de Jong in the 64th minute. A few minutes later, Espanyol struck again mercilessly. Barca blamed it on Eric García, who came on at half-time for the likely injured Ronald Araújo, who let Raúl de Tomas escape his attention. The Espanyol striker controlled a long ball from the side to the chest and outsmarted Ter Stegen in peace: 2-1. Gerard Piqué and Nico Melamed got into a fight in the final phase and after some pushing and pulling, both players got red. Luuk de Jong brought in the point in the very last minute by heading perfectly from a cross from Traoré.