Sloppy play from Espanyol
It was almost painful to see Espanyol trying to hold their ground against the might of Luis Enrique’s side. The Periquitos were extremely sloppy in possession as they gave the ball away cheaply in dangerous areas.
Papakouli Diop lost possession in his own half and Barcelona immediately capitalized as Messi played a menacing through-ball into the path of Suarez, who made no mistake as he slotted the ball past an advancing Pau Lopez. Minutes later, Lopez almost conceded another goal as his attempted clearance went straight to Suarez.
Wing-back Javi Lopez was out-muscled with ease by Suarez as the striker went on to score his second of the game with a header. Just when it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse for Galca’s side, keeper Pau Lopez fumbled as he tried to deal with a low cross into the box, enabling substitute Rafinha to score with his first touch of the ball.
Diop was wasteful with his passing yet again as he lost possession right outside the Espanyol box. Dani Alves immediately lobbed the ball into the path of a charging Suarez who squared it for Neymar. The ex-Santos man found himself completely unmarked as he knocked the ball into an open net.
