FC Barcelona started off their new year in an inauspicious manner after they were held to a goalless draw by Espanyol in the first Catalan derby of the season.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez struck the woodwork in a tempestuous affair at the Estadi Cornell -El Prat, but were ultimately unable to breach a well-drilled Espanyol back line. Espanyol themselves had a host of chances during the match, most notably through Hernan Perez, but failed to find the back of the net in front of a rowdy home crowd.
The stalemate against Espanyol means that FC Barcelona have failed to win three of their last four matches in the league. This has given the Madrid clubs — Atletico and Real — a golden opportunity to cut the gap at the top of the table.
FC Barcelona’s fearsome trident of Messi, Suarez and Neymar were slated on Twitter as they drew a blank on the night. Here are the best Twitter reactions to FC Barcelona’s 0-0 draw with Espanyol on Saturday.
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FULL TIME: Bar a held 0-0 at Espanyol in Catalan derby in their first game of 2016 #EspanyolFCB #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/n9j89104Eb
a FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 2, 2016
3 of Barcelona’s last 4 Liga games ended with a draw #fcblive a barcastuff (@barcastuff) January 2, 2016
Barcelona have failed to score in La Liga for the first time since February 2015, and Atletico can go top tonight. pic.twitter.com/cQXWC8644l
a Goal UK (@GoalUK) January 2, 2016
Barcelona fans and their logic level -.- pic.twitter.com/3M4HIzT2cs a Troll Football (@TrollFootball) January 2, 2016
180 goals in 2015 but @FCBarcelona start 2016 with a blank after 0-0 draw v @RCDEspanyol pic.twitter.com/bCBNdTBJeS
a Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 2, 2016
Oh, and Bar a not being able to register Arda and Vidal for today’s game because the FA members are on vacation says it all about Spain a migeru (@migerucb) January 2, 2016
Hack, hack, hack, complain, lay down, repeat. Congrats on your point, Espanyol. #fcblive
a Church of Soccer (@churchofsoccer) January 2, 2016
Luis Enrique: “They [Espanyol] were very intense but that was something we knew before the game” #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/TlAtKRxuuW a FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 2, 2016
True that lenient refereeing facilitated Espanyol’s approach. With many other refs, they’d have to rein it in a lot. https://t.co/pRUKVE2wqo
a Andy West (@andywest01) January 2, 2016
Luis Enrique asked about racist chants towards Neymar and goes silent. Then says “I don’t want to talk anything that isn’t the game” a Richard Martin (@rich9908) January 2, 2016
For me, Messi is the best ever. But the treatment Leo got today at Espanyol, Maradona had every game back in the 1980s. Different game now.
a Ben Hayward (@bghayward) January 2, 2016
Racist fans, scummy players, dodgy refereeinga Espanyol in a nutshell. a Rafael HernA?ndez (@RafaelH117) January 2, 2016
La Liga officiating as ugly as ever. Makes you wonder if the federation will ever at least ameliorate the state of refs. There’s a limit.
a Sergi Dom nguez (@FutbolSergi) January 2, 2016
Barcelona didn’t win Messi didn’t score Mahrez missed a penalty Ozil didn’t assist a goal Rooney scored Manchester United won Welcome 2016! a TheSPORTbible (@TSBible) January 2, 2016
How to stop Messi: the ‘Shrovetide method’ pic.twitter.com/nfllsZvl86
a AS English (@English_AS) January 2, 2016