Locker-room Spotlight: The Espanyol Star Who Stole Barcelona’s Post-Derby Show
6 January 2026
Derby Afterglow
Barcelona’s victory at the RCDE Stadium wasn’t just a one-off moment in the locker room: celebrations spilled over as players gathered in small groups, praising a standout display by an Espanyol player.
Barcelona sealed a late 2-0 victory over Espanyol, with goals from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski, preserving their place at the top of La Liga.
According to AS, left-back Carlos Romero drew clear praise from Barça players after a strong showing against teenager Lamine Yamal.
Romero not only neutralized Yamal for long stretches but also offered a persistent threat from the left flank as Yamal faced moments of defensive vulnerability.
One of Romero’s passes sparked a dangerous header from a teammate, forcing a spectacular save by the goalkeeper, before Romero added a precise second-half strike that the keeper palmed away.
Espanyol coach Manolo Gonzalez leaned on him heavily, making Romero the most involved player with 54 interventions, five recoveries, and a strong success rate in duels.
The display underscored the 24-year-old’s rise: no longer just a solid defender, he’s becoming an influential attacker, especially after his recent goal against Athletic Bilbao.
With his Villarreal contract running to 2029, Espanyol face a pivotal decision this summer amid competition for left-back with Cardona and Pedraza, though Romero’s prospects look bright.
In Barcelona, despite a crowded position and names like Grimaldo mentioned in transfer chatter, Romero remains on Barca’s radar, though his market value around €45 million could complicate any serious move.
Punchline 1: Romero’s performance was so sharp, even the offside line filed a complaint for invasion of privacy. Punchline 2: If defending were a currency, Romero would be minting coins—left backs with this kind of value should come with a GPS to locate their own price tag.
