Espanyol: Kameni; Chica (Jordi Amat 63'),
Forlín, Víctor Ruíz, Didac (David García 80');
Raúl Baena, Javi Márquez; Luis García (Dátolo 61'),
Verdú, Callejón; Osvaldo. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona:
Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal;
Xavi, Busquets (Mascherano 78'), Iniesta (Keita 85'); Messi, David Villa, Pedro
(Bojan 88'). 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 18. Pedro. Ran on to return Messi pass and fired
low shot past Kameni.
0-2. 29. Xavi. Drilled shot in to net from wide angle
after first shot hit Alves.
0-3. 59. Pedro. Following up after Kameni
failed to hold on to shot from Messi.
1-3. 62. Osvaldo. Collected long pass
and struck angled shot past Valdés.
1-4. 75. Villa. Picked up Messi
through ball and ran on to shoot wide of keeper.
1-5. 83. Villa. Shot past
Kameni from left of area after Xavi put him through.
Yellow cards: Busquets 26', Kameni 29', Baena 36', Osvaldo 36', Javi Márquez 41', Piqué 53', Víctor Ruíz 66', Dani Alves 69'.
Barcelona go marching on! Guardiola's side clocked up another big victory, beating city neighbours Espanyol 1-5 to move five points clear at the top pending Real Madrid's game on Sunday. Pochettino's side started the day in fourth place having won all their games at home this season, but they went behind early on when Pedro ran on to Messi's return pass to shoot low past Kameni. And a few minutes later Xavi got a second with a shot from wide on the right after his first effort had hit Dani Alves in the six yard box.
Valdés had to be at his best to save from Callejón before the break, but Pedro made it three with an hour on the clock after Kameni could only push out a long shot from Messi. Two minutes later Osvaldo ran on to a long ball to pull one back, and the striker could have scored again when he shot straight at the keeper on a quick counter-attack. But after that David Villa took advantage of through balls from Messi and Xavi to add two more later on, and with the game won Guardiola took off Iniesta so the appreciative crowd could applaud his gesture in the World Cup final, when he dedicated his winning goal to his deceased friend Dani Jarque.