FC Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a commanding 4–1 victory over RCD Espanyol, capitalising on Real Madrid’s latest slip to extend their lead at the top to nine points.

Hansi Flick named a strong lineup, and the impact was immediate. Gavi’s return brought intensity and bite to Barcelona’s midfield, while Ferran Torres emerged as the standout performer in the first half, netting a clinical brace. Both goals were crafted by the ever-dangerous Lamine Yamal, whose creativity and vision proved too much for Espanyol to handle.

After the break, Espanyol attempted to mount a comeback. Pol Lozano pulled one back following a VAR decision that ruled out what would have been Torres’ hat-trick. For a brief moment, the visitors sensed an opportunity.

However, those hopes were quickly extinguished. Lamine Yamal added his name to the scoresheet, capitalising on a goalkeeping error to slot into an empty net, before Marcus Rashford put the result beyond doubt with a late strike.

2025-26, Spain - La Liga

Barcelona - Espanyol 4:1 (2:0)
Goals: Torres F., 9 (1:0); Torres F., 25 (2:0); Lozano P., 56 (2:1); Yamal, 87 (3:1); Rashford, 89 (4:1)

Barcelona: García Jo.; Balde Al. (Cancelo, 64); Araujo R.; Cubarsí; Martín G. (Casado M., 46); Garcia E.; Gavi (Rashford, 64); Fermin Fermin (de Jong F., 84); Yamal; Torres F. (Olmo, 74); Pedri
Substitution: Casado M. (from 46); Cancelo (from 64); Rashford (from 64); Olmo (from 74); de Jong F. (from 84)
Bench: Szczesny; Kounde; Cortés; Espart; Bardagji; Lewandowski
Yellow Cards: Gavi 32; Garcia E. 45; Casado M. 49

Espanyol: Dmitrović; Gonzalez U.; Calero F.; Cabrera L.; El Hilali; Edu Expósito (Ramón, 71); Lozano P. (Pickel, 80); Dolan (Fernández Rob., 46); Romero; Ngongé (Sanchez Ru., 64); Kike García (Milla P., 71)
Substitution: Fernández Rob. (from 46); Sanchez Ru. (from 64); Ramón (from 71); Milla P. (from 71); Pickel (from 80)
Bench: Fortuno; Tristán; Salinas; Rubio; Carreras; Roca
Yellow Cards: El Hilali 32; Edu Expósito 34; Ngongé 45; Lozano P. 58; Calero F. 83