Flick highlighted 2 key factors that helped Barcelona defeat Espanyol

Coach Hansi Flick explained the reasons that enabled Barcelona to beat Espanyol away from home, securing their number one spot in the La Liga 2025/26 table and creating a significant lead over archrival Real Madrid.

Despite winning 2-0 against Espanyol, coach Hansi Flick admitted that Barcelona had an unimpressive performance and only secured the full three points thanks to goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s talent and the impact of substitute players.

This match was particularly special for Joan Garcia as he faced his former club. The goalkeeper’s outstanding display helped Barca keep a clean sheet before Fermin Lopez came on to spark chances that led Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski to score.

Speaking after the tough match to AS, coach Hansi Flick shared very candid thoughts about the game’s flow: "We had to adjust many aspects — tactics, personnel, mentality, and the competitive mindset. I must admit Espanyol played an excellent match. Personally, I think Barcelona didn’t fully deserve the win based on the overall play. However, the quality of the players, especially those coming off the bench, completely changed the outcome."

The German tactician also did not hesitate to praise his player Garcia: "The first thing I want to do is thank Joan Garcia. He is currently one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Along with the brilliance of the substitutes, we earned 3 points and sent a strong message to La Liga."

Sharing Flick’s view, player Dani Olmo also highly praised Garcia:"Today, Joan Garcia was truly exceptional. He is a fantastic goalkeeper. Everyone saw that Joan delivered a top-level performance in front of his former fans and kept a clean sheet. He has already given and will continue to bring many great things to Barca."

Against his former club Espanyol, Garcia was impressive with 6 saves (all from shots inside the box), 2 successful rush-outs, 1 punch to clear danger, 24/27 accurate passes, earning him the Man of the Match award.

The win in the Catalonia derby temporarily puts Barcelona 7 points ahead of archrival Real Madrid in the standings. Xabi Alonso’s team will face Real Betis next. This is expected to be a tough match for Real, who could stumble against a Betis side known for causing surprises.