MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 21:58:07| >> :120:14254:14254:
[monks data]
Attendance: 33,562
Espanyol logo
La Liga | Gameweek 19
Jan 4, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

2-2

Lopez (23'), Lei (88')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Suarez (50'), Vidal (59')

Barcelona boss Valverde says De Jong's red card 'did us damage' in derby draw

The Dutch midfielder was sent off 15 minutes from time for two bookable offences.

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde blamed Frenkie De Jong's red card for
dropping two points in the derby draw with Espanyol.

Substitute Wu Lei struck in the 88th minute to earn bottom club Espanyol a dramatic 2-2 draw and leave Barcelona level on points at the top of LaLiga with Real Madrid.

Luis Suarez and substitute Arturo Vidal overturned David Lopez's first-half goal at the start of the second period, but Dutch midfielder De Jong was sent off for a second bookable offence 15 minutes from time.

Spain Soccer La Liga
Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande (right) shows a red card to Barcelona's Frenkie De Jong (Joan Monfort/AP)

"De Jong's red card did us damage," Valverde said at his post-match press conference.

"We had three chances to kill the game off and we ended up drawing from one chance.

"We more or less controlled the match and we were fine after coming back (from a goal down), with this intention of continuing to score.

"They went forward and we were left with more space. It was in our favour and it removed us a bit, the opponent is always going to push at the end.

"They're going to have a (chance), they had that and they converted it."

Real hit the ground running after the winter break to win 3-0 at Getafe earlier on Saturday.

The pair are five points clear of Atletico Madrid – who beat Levante 2-1 on Saturday – and Sevilla.

"It leaves a bad taste because we wanted the three points," Valverde said.

Spain Soccer La Liga
Arturo Vidal celebrates after giving Barcelona a second-half lead at Espanyol (Joan Monfort/AP)

"We went in front and it feels like you've achieved a point if you equalise at the end.

"If you concede a late equaliser, it feels like you lose two points.

"It was difficult to break them down, but bit by bit we did it. However, we were left with 10 men and they equalised."

Scorer Lopez said the hosts had to be content with a point, even though Jonathan Calleri passed up a late chance to secure a first derby win for Espanyol in nearly 11 years.

Los Periquitos are four points adrift of safety at the halfway of the season, but new head coach Abelardo has clearly had an instant impact at the club.

"Seeing the situation we were in, the leaders against the last, we're very happy with the team," Lopez said on Premier Sports.

"The point is worth a lot with the situation that we're in.

"Against the leaders, having to come from behind, is very difficult. But these guys don't give up and we battled until the end.

"The manager told us not to be so open as opponents have found it easy to play between our lines.

"We didn't let Barcelona do that and we made it as difficult as possible for them.

"We're all convinced we can stay up. We're starting with this disadvantage, but we think we can do it."

ID:385066: cacheID:385066:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7938:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Luis Suarez celebrates scoring for Barcelona on October 2, 2019
Read Next:
La Liga roundup: Wu Lei nets late equaliser as bottom side Espanyol hold leaders Barcelona
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!