Disjointed Barcelona Might Live to Regret Wasted Opportunities
Espanyol's fans celebrated their draw against Barcelona on Saturday as though they had won the league. As well they might.
It was only the third time in seven years, per Wettpoint Soccer Database, the Periquitos had stopped their Catalan neighbours from taking all three points.
And the manner of the home side's performance has certainly given manager Constantin Galca some food for thought for the forthcoming Copa del Rey games between the pair.
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On balance of play, Barcelona will be disappointed not to have won the game. Although disjointed for long periods, when the chances came, they fell the way of the Blaugrana.
Via a mixture of bad luck, poor finishing and excellent last-ditch defending from the hosts, the game became destined to be one in which Barca would never have scored if they'd have carried on playing until midnight.
It just wasn't to be.
Although all of Barca's stars were on the field in this game, it did have echoes of the first game of 2015 when Barca succumbed to Real Sociedad at Anoeta.
On that occasion too, Barca did everything but score, but the game is remembered more for some rotations from Luis Enrique.
The Barca faithful can't level the same at their manager this time around, as his selections and substitution were spot on.
The team were simply unable to break down a resilient opponent when it mattered, but the failure to do so has added undue pressure. A win would've at least maintained the status quo and left Barca in the box seat in the league.
Looking on things positively, they will still be top by a point if they win their game in hand on leaders Atletico Madrid, and as detailed by WhoScored.com it was Barca's fourth clean sheet in a row.
But the reality of the situation is a point is far too close for comfort for a team that has taken all before them in some games this season, and it was the third draw in the last four Liga games for the champions.
Espanyol should also be given a good deal of credit for the way in which they packed the midfield and defence at the crucial moments, not allowing their opponents the time and space needed to create openings.
A tendency to go a little over the top at times, however, needed to be clamped down upon by the referee, Jose Gonzalez. Unfortunately for the visitors, it was a desperately poor performance by the official.
As if to emphasise just how poor a game Gonzalez had, he booked Victor Alvarez for raising two hands to the chest of Javier Mascherano, sending him flying, but he didn't follow it up with a second yellow for exactly the same offence on the same player not 10 seconds afterward.
Still, Barca should concentrate on rectifying their own shortcomings in a physical battle rather than looking to deflect blame elsewhere.
Sometimes the short, sharp and intricate passing game has to be dispensed with in preference to a more agricultural effort.
It won't be pretty, and a large proportion of the locals are unlikely to be impressed, but if it means the difference between winning or drawing a game, then there is some justification for moving away from the Barca style on occasion.
With a potential nine games to play in January if Barca can overcome this same opposition in the cup, Enrique will have to rotate his playing staff.
Fortunately for manager and club, both Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan will certainly make debuts shortly, and both players are well used to the full-throttle football that characterised Espanyol's performance at times.
Assuming Barca can safely negotiate the league games against Granada, Athletic Club and Malaga, they take on Atletico Madrid at the end of January with all to play for in what could be a pivotal match in this campaign.
But if any of those opponents were watching El Derbi Barceloni, they'll know exactly what's required to ensure the start of 2016 is a very unhappy new year for the Blaugrana.
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