Barcelona consolidated second place in La Liga EA SPORTS with a decisive 2-0 win over Almeria at Power Horse Stadium on Thursday night, extending their lead at the top to four points.
Fermin Lopez, a 21-year-old midfielder, was the standout performer in the match, single-handedly sealing the victory for the Blaugrana with two goals. His first goal in the first half set the tone for the match, and his second after the break sealed the win, underlining his growing importance to the squad. Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona coach, made strategic changes to his squad after the recent victory over Real Sociedad. He introduced four young La Masia graduates into the starting lineup, including Lamine Yamal, Hector Fort and 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi. The move highlights the club’s continued investment in youth and their commitment to developing young talent.
Almeria, already relegated and having a challenging season, tried to mount a challenge for Barcelona in front of their home crowd. However, the match did not start well for them. Hector Fort made an accurate cross in the 14th minute, Fermin Lopez expertly headed past Luis Maximiano to give Barcelona an early lead, setting the pace of the match.
Despite only starting 12 matches this season, Lopez’s performance marked his sixth goal in La Liga, underlining his effectiveness and promise as a midfielder.
Almeria had a golden chance to equalize when Lazaro assisted Leo Baptistao, who faced Marc-Andre ter Stegen but could not convert. Barcelona’s young talent, Lamine Yamal, almost doubled the gap before half an hour of play, but his shot went wide of the post.
Almeria continued to apply pressure, with Jonathan Viera supporting Adri Embarba, whose effort also hit the post, leaving the home side frustrated. After the break, Almeria’s suffering continued as Anthony Lozano missed a clear chance from 12 yards following a defensive mistake by Cubarsi.
Barcelona eventually slowed down but consolidated their dominance in the 66th minute. Sergi Roberto’s dynamic run and low cross found Fermin Lopez, who confidently scored the second goal, ending hopes Almeria’s hope of a comeback.
The final minutes saw little action as Almeria suffered their 23rd defeat of the season. Meanwhile, Barcelona have moved closer to securing second place, now four points ahead of Girona with just two matches remaining.
