FC Barcelona News: 5 February 2018; Barcelona Held By Espanyol, Barcelona B Stage Comeback

RCD Espanyol – FC Barcelona: All square in the rain (1-1) | FC Barcelona
A huge downpour in Barcelona before and during the entire game gave the surface at the RCDE Stadium a greasy top, ensuring that tackles had to be expertly timed, and passes accurate. Both sides appeared to cope well in the opening exchanges under the circumstances.

Ernesto Valverde: ‘We played with a lot of courage because everything was going against us’ | FC Barcelona
“We thought the pitch would be ok, but at halftime we saw that it could become dangerous. Therefore, we had to try long balls and more strategic plays, but in the end, Piqué’s goal arrived,” said Valverde, who considered the Catalan central defender as a player “who assumes responsibilities in these types of matches.”

HIGHLIGHTS: Espanyol v Barça | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona are still unbeaten in the league. Ernesto Valverde’s team dominated possession in the RCDE Stadium against Espanyol but had to come from behind after Gerard Moreno’s gave the home side the lead in the second half. A strike from Gerard Piqué earned the blaugranes a point in a rain-swept encounter in Barcelona.

Best unbeaten start to a season in La Liga | FC Barcelona
A new record for FC Barcelona: thanks to the 1-1 draw in the RCDE Stadium the blaugranes have gone some 22 games without defeat in the league since the start of the season, a new club record. Ernesto Valverde’s team move past the record set by Pep Guardiola’s team in 2009/10 who started the season unbeaten in their first 21 matches before losing 2-1 to Atlético Madrid in week 22.

Barcelona captain Iniesta defends Pique after Espanyol goal celebration | Goal
Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta defended team-mate Gerard Pique after the defender again courted controversy against Catalan rivals Espanyol. Pique headed the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Barca’s neighbours in LaLiga on Sunday, celebrating by putting his finger to his lips and ‘shushing’ the home fans at RCDE Stadium.

Córdoba CF - FC Barcelona B: A comeback at the death (1-2) | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona B secured a great victory against Córdoba (1-2) at the Estadio Nuevo Arcángel, thanks to a goal right at the very end of the match. Narváez’s opening goal was cancelled out thanks to Aleñá - with a penalty - and Nahuel Leiva with virtually the last kick, meaning Gerard Lopez’s side have now won three consecutive games to move away from the relegation places.

Source: barcablaugranes.com