Pol Lozano of Espanyol Barcelona has accused FC Barcelona players of a lack of respect following their 1-4 derby defeat on Saturday evening.
The source of contention was post-match altercations as some players from the two city rivals clashed on their way to the dressing rooms. Lamine Yamal’s provocative celebration for his decisive 3-1 goal shortly before the end may have also fueled the discussions, as the 18-year-old Barca star was able to run freely towards the opponent’s goal and celebrated even before scoring.
When asked about the confrontations with the Blaugrana stars by DAZN after the game, Lozano stated: «Everyone saw how little respect they have for other players. I don’t want to say any more about it.» The midfielder, who scored Espanyol’s interim goal in the 56th minute, elaborated: «They tried to mock me a bit because they won. That’s all. When you lose, you just have to put up with it, that’s how it always is.»
Barca took an early lead at Camp Nou on Saturday through a goal from Ferran Torres (9th minute), and the forward doubled the lead in the 25th minute. Yamal assisted both goals, underscoring his top form and incidentally shattering a La Liga record held by Real Madrid legend Raul.
FC Barcelona Takes Another Crucial Step Towards League Title
After Lozano’s goal, Yamal restored the two-goal advantage in the 87th minute, and Marcus Rashford added the final goal shortly after. With this victory, Barca extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points over their chasers, Real Madrid, who had faltered against Girona on Friday (1-1).
Espanyol, after a surprisingly strong first half of the season, has since come back down to earth. Lozano and his teammates are now winless in 14 league games (nine losses, five draws) and are firmly at the bottom of the second-half standings. They currently sit in tenth place overall, with a seven-point cushion above the relegation zone, meaning Espanyol is not yet out of danger with seven games remaining in the season.
FC Barcelona Solidly in First Place: The Top 4 in La Liga
| Position | Club | Games Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Barcelona | 31 | 79 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 31 | 70 |
| 3 | FC Villarreal | 30 | 58 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 31 | 57 |