Barcelona Nine Points Clear At Top Of La Liga As Dani Olmo Helps Catalans Win 3-1

Barcelona continued ir excellent run of form in La Liga as y defeated city rivals Espanyol to go nine points clear at top of table. Barcelona faced off against ir city rivals Espanyol and took 3-1 win at home. Barcelona's star was midfielder Dani Olmo who scored a brace in first half to get Catalans lead. third goal for Barcelona was scored by ir captain and Brazilian Raphinha as all of Barcelona's goals came in first half of match. 

Dani Olmo Stars In Barcelona's Win Against Espanyol 

 Dani Olmo made most out of his return as a starter with Barcelona, scoring twice to lead Catalan club to a 3-1 win over Espanyol in city derby on Sunday in Spanish league.

Raphinha also scored for Barcelona, which a week ago had routed Real Madrid 4-0 in clasico at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Barcelona is w nine points ahead of Madrid, whose game at Valencia on Saturday was postponed because of deadly floods that killed more than 200 people in sourn Spain last week.

game between Villarreal and Rayo Valleca also was postponed, as were three second-division games scheduled to be played in region this weekend.

victory extended Barcelona’s 27-match unbeaten streak against Espanyol in league. Espanyol, sitting in 17th place, has lost six of its last seven league matches.

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Olmo scored his double in his return as a starter after hurting his right hamstring on Sept. 15 against Girona. He had come off bench in team’s wins against Bayern Munich in Champions League and Madrid in Spanish league.

“I was excited about coming back,” Olmo said. “I’m feeling well. It was important to keep winning.”

He put Barcelona ahead in 12th minute from close range after a neat cross by Lamine Yamal with outside of his left foot. Olmo’s second goal came with a strike from outside area in 31st.

In his first season with Barcelona, Olmo w has five goals in five matches.

Raphinha added to lead in 23rd by redirecting ball into net with one touch after Marc Casadó's long cross into area.

Barcelona has outscored its league opponents 40-11 in 12 matches. Madrid has second-best attack with 21 goals scored. 

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“We are a team that can score a lot, t only with our strikers but also with players in second line,” Olmo said. “We play very direct and create many opportunities.”

Espanyol Had Several Goals Called Off

Espanyol thought it had moved closer in 27th but Jofre Carrera’s goal was called off after video review because of offside. It also had a goal by Álvaro Tejero disallowed for offside in 58th, n Javi Puado finally scored a goal that counted in 63rd.

Barcelona also had a goal called off in stopp time.

Before match, Barcelona hored those who received awards at Ballon d’Or ceremony last week, including Yamal, who earned Kopa Trophy award for best Under-21 player, and Aitana Bonmatí, who won award for world’s best woman soccer player. Barcelona also won best women’s team prize.

re was also a moment of silence in hor of flood victims, which has taken place at all league matches this weekend. 

(With AP Inputs)