BARCELONA: Marcos Alonso went from hero to zero as Espanyol held toppers Barcelona to a 1-1 draw on Saturday yet the Catalan giants still claimed the top spot on goal difference.

Referee Antonio Matue Lahoz, however, took the centre stage he handed out fifteen yellow cards and two red cards in the game at Camp Nou.

After Alonso gave Barcelona an early lead Lahoz sprang into action and before the break, he booked four players besides awarding Espanyol a penalty in the second half, which Joselu converted to equalize for his side.

Jordi Alba was laid off in the final half after getting two yellow cards inside four minutes for his protests to Mateu Lahoz and two minutes later Esoanyol’s Vinicius Souza was also brandished a red card by the Spanish referee.

In minute 81, he awarded Souza’s team-mate, Leandro Cabrera, a red card after adjudging that the defender had deliberately hit a boot on Robert Lewandowski’s head but a VAR review forced him to change the decision.

While Xavi’s men were clearly unhappy with the chaotic referring decisions, Lahoz, however, used his card once more, booking Barca’s manager and Raphinha, for protesting his decisions.

Meanwhile, in another Saturday fixture, Real Sociedad sank visitors Osasuna 2-0, thanks to Brais Mendez and Alexander Sorioth’s goals in each half.

Villareal, however, edged past Valencia 2-1 with help of a late decider by Juan Foyth in the last fixture of the day.

The action-filled matches of LaLiga 2022-23 are being telecasted live on Pakistan’s first HD Sports channel – A Sports and are simultaneously streamed on the digital platform of ARY Digital Network – ARY ZAP in crystal clear HD quality.

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