Barcelona 1-1 Espanyol: Joselu’s penalty cancels out Marcos Alonso’s opener in derby draw

Barcelona went back to the top of LaLiga but dropped two points against local rivals Espanyol in an ill-tempered chaotic derby in which controversial referee Mateu Lahoz kept up his World Cup form by showing 15 yellow cards and two reds.

Lahoz who booked 17 players in his last game in Qatar between the Netherlands and Argentina sent Vini Souza and Jordi Alba off in the second half as Espanyol equalised a Marcos Alonso opener with a Joselu penalty. Lahoz also sent Leandro Cabrera off only to reverse his decision when he was told to review it pitchside.

Xavi Hernandez, who was also booked in the second half, saw his side take the lead after seven minutes when Alonso scored his first goal for the club heading in a corner that had been flicked on by Robert Lewandowski.

Joselu celebrates after equalising for Espanyol from the penalty spot at the Nou Camp

Marcos Alonso celebrates scoring his first ever LaLiga goal for Barcelona against Espanyol

There was bad blood leading up to the game with Barcelona successfully getting a stay of execution for their Polish striker who was supposed to miss the match in what would have been the first of a three-game ban. Barcelona had lodged an appeal with a non-Sports judge in Madrid and their decision meant the 13-goal forward could start the game.

His vital part in the goal made it even more difficult for Espanyol to accept his presence on the pitch. There were no Espanyol fans inside the stadium with away fans banned in the Catalan derby and the 88,000 Barça fans must have sensed they were about to go on and win comfortably but Espanyol stayed in the game.

Alonso, who was otherwise outstanding in his new role in the centre of Barcelona’s defence, then turned villain for Barça by stepping on Joselu in the area knocking off his boot and provoking a penalty which the former Newcastle striker scored.

Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz sent off two players, one from either side, in the second half

Jordi Alba (left) was sent off after being booked twice in the space of four minutes

Espanyol’s Vinicius Souza was also give his marching orders in the closing stages

Barça threw everything at their struggling neighbours but 24-year-old keeper Alvaro Fernandez pulled off two excellent second half saves to keep them on terms.

First he got down well to push away an Andreas Christensen header and then he blocked a shot from Lewandowski with his legs.

Lahoz intensified his card giving in the second period and when Alba spoke out of turn he was shown a second yellow and sent off.

‘He didn’t even know he had been shown the first yellow,’ said Sergi Roberto after the game. Such was the chaos – that was believable. It was soon 10 against nine when Lahoz sent off Cabrera for a knee in the back of Lewandowski and Souza for contesting the decision.

Lahoz was then advised to check the straight red and changed his mind when he watched the incident pitchside. It looked fortunate for Espanyol – at best it was a second yellow for Cabrera who had put Gavi out of the game with a foul in the first period.

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez accused Mateu Lahoz of losing control of the game

Cabrera stayed on and Espanyol played out time.

‘Lahoz is a referee who controls games well,’ said Xavi after the match. ‘But today he lost control of the match.’ Barcelona will be happy about going into 2023 on top but they had not been convincing against a team who haven’t beaten them since 2009 in the league.

Espanyol’s wait for a win against their neighbours goes on but they celebrated as if they had won on the final whistle as card-happy Lahoz was whistled off by home supporters.