Barcelona wins seventh Copa de Catalunya beating Espanyol

Last night Barcelona won for the seventh time the Copa Catalunya, beating Espanyol on penalties (4-2), after the game was tied in the 89th minute (1-1) thanks to a goal from Cesc Fabregás, after Simao sntached a goal after 20 minutes in the first half.

After an intense game of football from Barca who dominated most of the match, they were rewarded in the last minute of the game when Cesc scored the tying goal, beating the star of the game, goalkeeper Kiko Casilla. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Xavi Hernandez missed his penalty with Casilla stopping it. Then it was Colotto and Verdú’s turn to miss making the last shot useless when Barca was already 4-2 up.

Barcelona was the better side in the first half, with the ball seemingly stuck at the feet of the Barca midfield, which set the pace of the game although it ended up being unproductive with only few attacks on the Espanyol goal.

With just three first team players with the rest being from the B team, the club fielded a striker in the form of Rafinha, assisted by Pedro and Deulofeu on the wings. But Barca’s offensive wasn’t giving them any results.

Even less offensive was Espanyol, although a ball from Oier on 20 minutes and a mistake by Adriano, who lost control because of Wakaso’s pressure, found the ball falling to Simao, who made no mistake and made it 1 nil to Espanyol. Barca had three attempts on the half hour, but Kiko Casilla was too good for Sergi Roberto. Next up was Deulofeu, who changed wings. He tried a solo effort but his aim was off.

In the 36^th minute Barca wanted a penalty when Mattioni stuck his hand in Deulofeu’s face on the area. In the second half, Barca laid siege on Espanyol’s penalty area without respite. Alexis, who came on in the 46^th minute, had a great shot at goal and in the 62^nd minute, the team from Cornella saw their goal bombarded by a succession of shots, one hitting the post by Rafinha.

Just 4 minutes later and Barcelona had to bring the heavy artillery onto the pitch to find the equalizer, with play from Xavi, Villa and Cesc, and then to Pique and Jordi Alba. The number 7 shirt of Villa found the ball at his feet on 72 minutes but Casilla was too good. Two minutes later, the Espanyol keeper had to save another effort from Alexis Sánchez.

Towards the end of the match, Barca nearly equalized from a Fabregás header but Casilla was there once more. Fate then gave Cesc another opportunity and the Barca midfielder who, in the 89^th made no mistake by beating Casilla with a low shot to make it 1 goal apiece.