Flick thanks 'unbelievable' goalkeeper Garcia, as Barca edges Espanyol

Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski's late strikes helped Barcelona snatch a 2-0 win at Espanyol on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga, with coach Hansi Flick left thanking goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

The champion was largely outplayed by its city rival, and it was Garcia who kept it afloat in the derby clash against his former side, before substitute Olmo curled home in the 86th minute.

Fermin Lopez created Olmo's goal, before laying the second on a plate for another replacement, Lewandowski, as Barca claimed a ninth consecutive league victory and ended Espanyol's own run of five wins in a row.

"We didn't deserve it, I'll be honest, but, in the end, the quality we brought on the pitch after the changes decided the game," said Flick.

"First of all, I have to say thank you to Joan Garcia, because he played unbelievably. He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world."

Manolo Gonzalez's side, currently fifth in the table, could have claimed at least a point from a typically spiky battle at the RCDE Stadium, before Barca's substitutes decided the game.

Espanyol fans gave Garcia a particularly hostile reception, after he became the first player to leave the club for its Catalan rival in more than 30 years in the summer.

The host hung huge safety nets behind the goals to try and protect Barca's stopper — who was whistled throughout — from projectiles, while fans waved banners with pictures of rats at him.

Amid the ire, Garcia made two vital first-half interventions that kept the teams level at the interval.

"Joan is incredible, a great goalkeeper. Playing against his old fans, he had a great game and got a clean sheet,"Olmo told Movistar.

"He will give us a lot — he's giving us that, and he will give us so much more too, I'm sure."

There were few clear chances in a tense first half, and the best openings fell to Espanyol.

Striker Roberto Fernandez got in behind Barca's high line, one-on-one, but Garcia blocked his shot and then improvised brilliantly by shoving teammate Gerard Martin into the way of Pere Milla's follow-up.

Then, Garcia produced a stunning save to tip away Milla's header, which seemed destined for the back of his net.

The goalkeeper's excellent performances last season helped Espanyol stay in the top flight, but when the champion came calling, he made the rarely-taken move across the city.

Garcia was called into action again as Fernandez burst through on goal in the second half, with the keeper pushing the ball to safety as the forward tried to round him.

Jules Kounde cleared off the line and Garcia tipped Fernandez's near-post drive away, as Espanyol continued to harry Flick's side.

"I don't celebrate the first 80 minutes how we played," admitted Flick.

"But, in the end, we scored the two goals, got the three points and this is a massive message to La Liga and very important."

Elsewhere, Villarreal maintained the pressure on La Liga's top two with a 3-1 win at Elche on Saturday to go provisionally third.

AFP