Espanyol: Cristian Alvarez (Kiko Casilla 80');
Raúl Rodríguez, Jordi Amat, Héctor Moreno, Didac;
Forlín, Romaric (Alvaro Vázquez 64'); Thievy, Verdú, Weiss
(Javi López 46'); Sergio García. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona:
Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal;
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Alexis (Pedro 71'), Messi, Fábregas (Keita
84'). 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 15. Fàbregas. Ran in to head Dani Alves
cross inside Alvarez's near post.
1-1. 87. Alvaro Vázquez. Header
from close up after Thievy headed on Raúl cross.
Yellow cards: Messi 13', Romaric 45', Raúl Rodríguez 69', Alvaro 76', Jordi Amat 89', Forlín 90', Casilla 92'.
Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw by city rivals Espanyol in the last match on Sunday evening, a result which left them five points adrift of arch-rivals Real Madrid. Barça's away form this season has been their weak point, and they could have gone behind early on when Valdés pushed out a shot from Verdú, and Piqué cleared his follow up off the line with the keeper beaten. A mistake by Cristian Alvarez could have gifted a goal to the visitors had Messi not controlled the ball with his hand, but with a quarter of an hour on the clock Fàbregas headed in a Dani Alves cross to put Barça ahead. Neither side was able to carve out clear cut chances after that though, and with four minutes to go Thievy header over a Raúl Rodríguez centre for Alvaro Vázquez to head home the equaliser. That set up a frenetic finish, and in the last minute Piqué fired a shot against the bar, and Pedro had a penalty appeal turned down when his follow up shot hit Raúl Rodríguez on the hand. There was still time for Rodríguez to head a corner just over the bar, but the game ended seconds later, much to the delight of the local fans.