Garcia helps Barca edge hosts Espanyol

Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski’s late strikes helped Barcelona snatch a 2-0 win at Espanyol on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga, with coach Hansi Flick left thanking his goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

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The champions were largely outplayed by their city rivals and Garcia kept them afloat in the derby clash against his former side before substitute Olmo curled home in the 86th minute.

Fermin Lopez created Olmo's goal before laying the second on a plate for another replacement, Lewandowski, as Barca claimed a ninth consecutive league victory and ended Espanyol’s own run of five wins in a row.

“We didn’t deserve it, I’ll be honest, but in the end the quality we brought on the pitch after the changes decided the game,” said Flick.

“First of all I have to say thank you to Joan Garcia because he played unbelievably. He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”

Manolo Gonzalez’s side, fifth, could have claimed at least a point from a typically spiky battle at the RCDE Stadium, before Barca’s substitutes decided the game.