Yamal shines as Barca thrash Espanyol to extend Liga lead

Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal orchestrated a 4-1 derby demolition of Espanyol on Saturday, setting up two goals and scoring a fortuitous third to fire the champions nine points clear at the summit of La Liga with seven matches remaining.

Ferran Torres, the night’s headline beneficiary of Yamal’s vision, rediscovered his scoring touch after a barren run stretching back to January, heading home a pinpoint Yamal corner on 22 minutes before converting a slide-rule pass from the 18-year-old winger with the outside of the boot eight minutes later.

Coach Hansi Flick, mindful of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Atlético Madrid where Barca trail 2-0, nevertheless resisted rotation and fielded a full-strength side. Pedri González and Yamal completed the full 90 minutes, underlining the club’s determination to secure a league they now firmly control.

Espanyol, beaten by the same opponents on the opening day of 2026 and winless since, briefly threatened when Tyrhys Dolan clipped the bar with a delicate chip, but Pol Lozano’s fierce drive after the break represented their only reward as Barcelona dominated territory and possession.

Torres saw a second-half hat-trick attempt ruled out by the tightest of offside calls against Eric Garcia, and Yamal curled a free-kick inches over before capping the evening in the 87th minute, charging down a loose clearance that ricocheted past goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

Marcus Rashford, on as a substitute, ended the night—and perhaps a personal drought—hooking a volley from Frenkie de Jong’s cross two minutes later for the fourth, the Dutch midfielder making his long-awaited return from a February hamstring injury.

Barca’s supporters remained inside Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys long after the final whistle, serenading a side that has one hand on the trophy and a European rescue mission ahead.