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First Division - Day 18

Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Jordi Alba; Xavi (Thiago 62'), Busquets, Fàbregas (David Villa 65'); Pedro (Alexis 74'), Messi, Iniesta. 4-3-3.
Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Javi López, Colotto, Héctor Moreno, Capdevila; Víctor Sánchez, Forlín; Raúl Baena (Cristian Alfonso 59'), Verdú (Stuani 62'), Simao (Albín 76'); Sergio García. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Xavi. Got on the end of Iniesta cross to turn shot wide of Kiko Casilla.
2-0. 15. Pedro. Deflected Messi shot past keeper after good run by Fabregas.
3-0. 27. Pedro. Ran on to Busquets through ball and lifted shot over keeper.
4-0. 29. Messi (penalty). After Casilla brought down Fàbregas inside the area.

Yellow cards: Casilla 28', Raúl Baena 53', Stuani 73', Héctor Moreno 84'.

Barcelona started the new year as they ended the old, a 4-0 win over city neighbours Espanyol taking them eleven points clear at the top of the table. Tito Vilanova returned to the dugout after his cancer operation to see his team race in to a four goal lead with only thirty minutes on the clock, Xavi opening the scoring after Iniesta set him up in the tenth minute. Five minutes later a good run by Fàbregas down the by-line ended with Messi firing in a shot which Pedro deflected in to the net, his first league goal since August. And Pedro scored again from a pinpoint pass by Busquets before Messi added the fourth from the penalty spot soon afterwards. After the break Pedro was deprived of his hat-trick when he had two strikes ruled out for offside, and Messi could have added a fifth when his free kick bounced off the crossbar with the keeper beaten. With the game coming to a close Valdés prevented Albín from scoring a late consolation, and Espanyol finished the day still in the bottom three, their four game unbeaten run coming to an end at the home of the old enemy. Barcelona started the new year as they ended the old, a 4-0 win over city neighbours Espanyol taking them eleven points clear at the top of the table. Tito Vilanova returned to the dugout after his cancer operation to see his team race in to a four goal lead with only thirty minutes on the clock, Xavi opening the scoring after Iniesta set him up in the tenth minute. Five minutes later a good run by Fàbregas down the by-line ended with Messi firing in a shot which Pedro deflected in to the net, his first league goal since August. And Pedro scored again from a pinpoint pass by Busquets before Messi added the fourth from the penalty spot soon afterwards. After the break Pedro was deprived of his hat-trick when he had two strikes ruled out for offside, and Messi could have added a fifth when his free kick bounced off the crossbar with the keeper beaten. With the game coming to a close Valdés prevented Albín from scoring a late consolation, and Espanyol finished the day still in the bottom three, their four game unbeaten run coming to an end at the home of the old enemy.