Barcelona defeated Espanyol 4-1 in a La Liga derby, but the match was marred by a heated clash between players. Tensions escalated post-game, highlighting the rivalry's intensity.
Watch: Barcelona fan-favourite caught in heated clash with Espanyol players after derby win
Barcelona may have secured a convincing 4-1 win over Espanyol in La Liga, but the story of the night goes beyond the scoreline.
On paper, it looked like a routine victory, one that strengthens Barcelona’s grip at the top and reinforces their dominance in the derby.
However, reports from SPORT suggest the match came dangerously close to boiling over into full-blown chaos.
With several players from both sides having crossed paths at the youth level, there is already a deep-rooted rivalry that goes beyond the 90 minutes.
That tension was evident once again, as tempers began to flare late in the game.
The flashpoint came following an exchange involving Gavi and Espanyol winger Pere Milla.
After the incident, Gavi was seen on the bench venting his frustration to teammates, revealing what had been said during the altercation.
“The number 11? He’s even worse… he’s a w**ker, always getting on your nerves.
“He’s come over to tell Fermin and me that I’m absolutely rubbish,” explained Gavi with the score already clearly in the Blaugrana’s favour.
Rather than letting the moment pass, emotions carried over, as Gavi, alongside Fermin Lopez, joined in with chants from Barcelona supporters aimed at their rivals.
As Espanyol players headed towards the tunnel, Fermin made his feelings clear in no uncertain terms, shouting, “You’re absolutely rubbish”
The reaction from Espanyol was immediate, as the taunts did not go unnoticed, and it triggered a heated response, particularly from Pere Milla.
As tensions rose, the winger went looking for Fermin to confront him directly.
“You cowardly piece of s**t.”
Although he did not find his intended target, Milla did cross paths again with Gavi, leading to another exchange from a distance.
The situation threatened to escalate further, with both sides even appearing to arrange a confrontation in the tunnel.
Fortunately, despite the heated words and rising tempers, the situation did not spiral out of control.
Both teams eventually made their way to their respective dressing rooms without physical confrontation.
After Barcelona's 4-1 victory over Espanyol, players from both teams were involved in a heated altercation that nearly escalated into chaos.
The win reinforced Barcelona's dominance in the derby and strengthened their grip at the top of the La Liga standings.
The rising tensions suggest a deepening rivalry that could lead to more intense encounters in future matches between the two teams.
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