Barcelona teenage striker, Ansu Fati received his first professional red card against City rivals Espanyol as Luis Suarez’s 15th La Liga goal of the season was enough to secure maximum points for the Catalan giant at the Camp Nou.
Fati was given the marching order for a foul on Fernando Calero before it became Pol Lozano’s turn for a dangerous tackle.
The win has kept Barca in the title hunt after reducing Real Madrid’s deficit to one point. The Whites will be needing to win two more games to claim their first La Liga title since 2012.
The Uruguayan talisman smashed home a loose ball to secure the three points, which also relegated Espanyol to division two.
Suarez now third all-time highest goalscorer in Barcelona history
The goal against the city rivals makes Suarez Barcelona’s outright third-highest scorer with 195 goals. He now sit sits behind Cesar Rodriguez Alvarez (232) and Lionel Messi (630) in Barcelona’s all-time top scorer list.
Real Madrid will have the opportunity to restore four points lead when they welcome Alaves on Friday to their temporary home, Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Espanyol is rooted to the bottom of the log has 24 points, 11 adrift of safety with just three games remaining. They were unlucky in getting a lead towards the end of the first half when Marc-Andre ter Stegen stopped Clement Lenglet from scoring an own goal before Didac Vila hit the post from the loose ball.
They also try to contain the hosts with Diego Lopez making a brilliant save from Lionel Messi’s shot after Suarez had put the team ahead with what was the only and winning goal of the Barcelona derby.
