04/11/26 02:25:00
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04/11 14:23 CDT Yamal scores and sets up two by Ferran as Barcelona capitalizes
on Madrid stumble
Yamal scores and sets up two by Ferran as Barcelona capitalizes on Madrid
stumble
By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) --- Lamine Yamal secured Barcelona's 4-1 win over
Espanyol after setting up Ferran Torres for a double and the La Liga leaders
took another step toward retaining the title on Saturday.
Yamal passed for Ferran to score in the 10th and 25th minutes before the
teenage phenom ensured the victory in the 87th with Espanyol threatening to
equalize. Marcus Rashford made it four for the hosts at Camp Nou in the 89th.
Barcelona capitalized on Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at home to Girona on Friday to
increase its lead to nine points over its top rival with seven rounds remaining.
Barcelona and Madrid will try to overcome losses in the Champions League
quarterfinals in their next games after Barcelona lost to Atletico Madrid 2-0
and Madrid fell to Bayern Munich 2-1 this week.
While Madrid will travel to Germany on a three-game winless streak, Barcelona's
attack is clicking as it heads to Spain's capital needing a big win to advance
to the European semifinals.
Barcelona's fans chanted "Yes we can!" after the match with its team playing at
Atletico on Tuesday.
"It is not over until it is over, things can happen, but it is true that it
depends on us," Ferran said about Barcelona's bid to repeat as Spanish
champion. "Now we can focus on the Champions League game."
The 18-year-old Yamal leads Barcelona both in goals (22) and assists (18)
across all competitions this season.
Ferran ends scoring drought
Ferran started the season in good form, scoring 16 goals among more starts than
aging star Robert Lewandowski. While lacking the clinical scoring touch of the
Poland striker, Ferran provided more movement, speed and linked up well with
Yamal and his midfielders.
But Ferran then hit a slump and had not scored since Jan. 31.
His goalless run stretched across 13 games in all competitions and finally
ended on Saturday when Yamal delivered a corner kick to the far post where
Ferran leapt over Carlos Romero and nodded it home.
Ferran celebrated his first goal by gesturing with his hands as if they were
talking, apparently in reference to the talk in the sports press and social
media about his scoring troubles.
He made it a brace when he used a subtle touch to roll a pass by Yamal under
on-rushing goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.
Espanyol makes Barcelona fight for the derby
Espanyol midfielder Pol Lozano put the result in doubt when he used one touch
to fire in a rebound of a loose ball to make it 2-1 in the 56th. Roberto
Fernndez then came within inches of reaching a cross by Lozano in the
goalmouth.
But Yamal finished off the Catalan derby when Dmitrovic tried to clear a long
pass but ended up knocking it off Yamal, who only had to push the ball into the
open net.
"The final score was too lopsided for the game we saw," said coach Manolo
Gonzlez, whose Espanyol remained in 10th. "We had our chances and their first
three goals were from our defensive mistakes."
Rashford got his goal when he was set up by fellow substitute Frenkie de Jong,
who made his first appearance in over a month after the Netherlands midfielder
recovered from a right leg injury.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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