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Defending La Liga champions Barcelona got their new year off with a whimper as they drew for a third time in the last four league games after being held to a surprise 0-0 stalemate by a gritty Espanyol.Having just wrapped up a memorable 2015, the Catalans were handed a sharp reality check by the Periquitos, who played arguably their best football of the season. Just 1 win in the last 5 fixtures had set the alarm bells ringing at the Cornella El-Prat, but their performance today caught everyone by surprise.Considering that the Blaugrana have been sauntering through the Catalan derbies in the recent memory, a win today was very much expected. But the visitors, instead, cut a frustrated figure and were left stalled in their tracks.The draw gives an opportunity for the Madrid clubs to trim the gap more, albiet, having played a game more. Here are some of the talking points from the Derbi Barceloni.
#1 New year, new blow
Reigning European champions Barcelona managed to cast their minds off the disappointing draws to Deportivo and Valencia last month by claiming the Club World Cup. On returning, they even managed to get back to winning ways after beating Betis black and blue, but the new year has thrown up a new surprise on the face of the mighty Catalans.
Ever since the 2-1 defeat to Espanyol at Camp Nou back in 2009, Barcelona have dominated the Catalonia derbies most of the times in the subsequent games. Espanyol have always been mid-table minnows whereas Barcelona are always the biggest favourites in the division. The chasm between the two teams from the Catalonian community often reflected on the scores.
The Blanquiazules were touted to be run over by the Barca juggernaut today, but they managed to catch everyone on a hop by an encouraging display. At this stage last year, Messi and co. lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad at the Anoenta, but went on to win the treble at the end of the season. They might just look up to that for inspiration after their disappointing outing today.
#2 MSN shut out
It had been a rare occurrence to see a side shutting out any of either Messi, Suarez or Neymar of late, let alone all three of them. But Espanyol today, managed to do the seemingly impossible and deservedly took a point off the game.
The prolific troika, who accrued an astronomical tally of 137 goals in 2015, appeared a pale imitation of their blistering self and were left frustrated by an obdurate Espanyol defence. Each of the Latin-American triad were marked closely and were obstructed from having any sort of influence in the game.
Chances did land at their feet, but the vigilance and close man-marking by the home side’s backline ensured that ‘MSN’ couldn’t turn the screw. By the dint of those heroics, Constantin Galca’s men left the visitors hamstrung and eventually claimed an unlikely-yet-deserving point.
#3 Asensio comes of age
Espanyol as a team were amazing this evening, but their young forward Marco Asensio shone the brightest. The 19-year old Spaniard is on a loan with the Catalan minnows from his parent club Real Madrid, where he emerged through their academy La Fabrica.
Asensio managed to grab a few eyeballs with his cheeky dribbles and fine first-touches. His exquisite passes forward were a source of danger for the visitors and even tried to instigate attacks on the counter. Defensively too, the teenager weighed in by providing an extra cover to the backline and also restricting Jordi Alba from the wings.
Asensio has announced himself to the Liga world, and Los Blancos must surely have taken a note of this.
#4 The woodwork whammy strikes again
Adding the two instances when Barcelona hit the woodwork today, they’ve now been denied by the crossbar for a remarkable 17 times this season already, five of which have come from Messi’s effort. The Argentine was frustrated by the pole thrice against Real Betis on Wednesday and met with the same fate one more time at Cornella El-Prat.
Having won a free-kick midway in the first half, Messi stepped up to take it but curled a shot that could only hit the bar whereas Luis Suarez hit the post with a long-range effort a few minutes later. Given that they were struggling for most of the game, it was certainly more painful to watch the sight of woodwork denying them.
Although they have struck the net 55 times this season, woodwork isn't particularly an issue. But it definitely is in games like these where chances are at a premium.
#5 Title race blown wide open
The draw hands a golden opportunity for Barcelona’s nearest rivals, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, to barber the distance at the top. A win for the former will see them draw level on points, whereas a victory for the latter will see them take the pole position in the first week of the new year.
But remember, Barcelona still have a game in hand. Their participation in the Club World Cup meant that the Blaugrana played a game less, and can still make up for the draw with this advantage. But with the Madrid clubs standing hot on their heels, it puts more pressure on the champions to win and must avoid such cheap results.
The title race is more open for now, but whether Barcelona can make the advantage count and continue to be ahead in the race remains to be seen.
