Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Arbilla, Alvaro González, Héctor Moreno, Duarte; Cañas, Abraham (Salva Sevilla 61‘); Lucas Vázquez, Sergio García, Víctor Alvarez (Paco Montañés 74’); Caicedo (Stuani 70’). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Bravo; Dani Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Rafinha (Mathieu 65‘), Busquets, Iniesta (Xavi 88‘); Messi, Luis Suárez (Rakitic 80‘), Neymar. 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 17. Neymar. Drove shot past Casilla after Suárez stepped over Alba cross.
0-2. 25. Messi. Controlled Suárez centre and struck angled shot past keeper.
Yellow cards: Sergio García 22’, Jordi Alba 54’, 54’, Dani Alves 58’, Alvaro 58’, Arbilla 62’, Lucas Vázquez 72’, Cañas 80’, Busquets 83’, Héctor Moreno 91’, 91’ / red cards: Jordi Alba 54’, Héctor Moreno 91’.
Leaders Barcelona put the pressure back on Real Madrid with a 0-2 victory at city neighbours Espanyol on Saturday afternoon. Luis Enrique’s side got off to a good start, Casilla having to save from Luis Suárez and Neymar firing a shot over the top early on, and Neymar opening the scoring after Suárez stepped over Jordi Alba’s cross. Midway through the first half Messi made it two after Suárez and Iniesta combined to set him up, referee Mateu Lahoz waving away appeals for offside, and Neymar went close a couple of times either side of half time as Barcelona continued to dominate. Some ten minutes in to the second half though the visitors were left with ten men when Alba picked up two bookings in a row for protesting, but even so Messi hit the post and Neymar shot over the bar soon afterwards. Sergio García and Stuani finally tested Claudio Bravo later on, but with the game in injury time numbers were evened up when Héctor Moreno was also shown two yellow cards for complaining to the officials. The result takes Barça five points clear of Madrid pending their game on Sunday.