The referee stole the show for the wrong reasons as Barça and Espanyol drew 1-1
There was a bit of everything in the Barça-Espanyol derby at Camp Nou on Saturday and much of the blame lies with the match official, Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
Barça and Espanyol had a lot to say throughout the game, a game that seemed under control until the referee decided to take the cards for a walk, already very early in the game.
The first protests came after Lahoz, after deciding not to give Brian Oliván a yellow card, went to the Barça bench and hugged and kissed the Barça coach, Xavi Hernández. Minutes later, he did book Oliván for grabbing Gavi by the neck, in an action in which Gavi was also cautioned.
The festival of cards increased from minute 70, when the game got out of hand, with 10 minutes of madness, in which he awarded a penalty, showed four yellows and three reds, later overturning Cabrera’s.
In minute 74, Mateu booked Jordi Alba and Vini Souza, in minute 76 Ferran Torres and later Pedri, in minute 78 he showed Jordi Alba his second yellow and in minute 81, another yellow to Vini Souza and a straight red to Cabrera. Finally, after consulting the action via VAR, he revoked Cabrera’s because he considered that he did not voluntarily step on Lewandowski.
In time added on, he also booked Raphinha and Xavi, both on the bench at the time.
The yellow cards:
Ansu Fati, M15
Gavi, M30
Brian Oliván, M30
Cabrera, M32
Calero, M55
Jordi Alba, M74
Edu Expósito, M74
Vini Souza, M74
Ferran Torres, M75
Pedri, M76
Jordi Alba, M78 (second yellow)
Vini Souza, M80 (second yellow)
Raphinha, M95
Puado, M96
Xavi Hernández, M96
In total, 15 bookings, two red cards and a third overturned. Lahoz in his purest form.