There's the final whistle! It's an important three points for Barca against their local rivals.
90' +1
We are going to have at least two added minutes here. Suarez feeds Messi at the top of the box and he moves away from Reyes to create room for a shot, but Diego Lopez is equal to it.
90'
Neymar slips inside the box when trying to check inside and have a shot on target. He's really wasted that opportunity, with Messi frustrated the ball doesn't come across to him at the back post.
88'
NEYMAR! The Brazilian races in behind and drills the ball straight at Diego Lopez, who barely has to move to make the block.
87'
L. Suárez has scored a goal for Barcelona!
GOOOOOOAAAAL!! SUAREZ GETS A SECOND! Messi's cross into the box is not dealt with by Aaron, who misses the ball with his attempted clearance. It drops kindly for Suarez, who takes a touch to move clear of Diego Lopez before tapping into the back of the net!
86'
There are whistles for Jurado after he gives up on Perez's pass, though he never looked like getting near it. Pique comes in for similar treatment after being involved in the game's main flashpoints.
84'
Espanyol fans are starting to leave now, with Barca controlling possession and looking happy to wind down the remaining minutes.
82'
Roberto has a go from 20 yards but he rifles his shot straight into the arms of Diego Lopez. Espanyol are losing the organisation that has served them well for much of the game.
81'
A rare opportunity for Messi who is left in space in the box, but he has to wait for the ball to drop after a difficult first half and he scuffs his shot into the ground, leaving Diego Lopez with a routine stop.
79'
Marc Roca enters the game and replaces Javi Fuego.
Fuego is off and Roca comes on in his stead.
Minute
Description
78'
J. Mascherano enters the game and replaces André Gomes.
A fairly disappointing performance from Gomes comes to an end with Mascherano sent on for the closing stages.
76'
I. Rakitić has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
That was exceptional from Messi. Putting Espanyol's defence under intense pressure before picking the right pass while being closed down by four opposition players.
GOOOOOAAAAL!! RAKITIC SURELY SEALS IT! Messi drives through the heart of Espanyol, carrying the ball to the top of the box before guiding a pass to his left for Rakitic. The Croatian slides a cool finish across goal, and that should be that!
74'
OPTA STAT: Messi has scored 49 goals for Barcelona in all competitions this season and could be the first player from the top five European Leagues to reach 50.
72'
Busquets goes back to the edge of his own box to receive a pass from Ter Stegen but Sanchez is tracking him all the way. The Espanyol midfielder dives in to try and nick the ball and is penalised by the referee.
70'
GOOD SAVE! Ter Stegen is called upon for the first time, diving to his left to keep out Jurado's left-footed effort that was aimed at the far post. Perez appears to step on the goalkeeper in the aftermath and he makes sure the referee knows about it!
69'
MESSI! He strikes it well, over the wall and back down onto the target. However, his effort is too close to Diego Lopez, who shuffles over to his left and comfortably claims it in front of his chest.
68'
Javi Fuego gets yellow.
A cynical trip on Messi earns Fuego a place in the book and gives Barca a chance to test Diego Lopez from a 25-yard free-kick.
66'
H. Pérez enters the game and replaces P. Piatti.
Piatti's race is run. He makes way for Perez.
65'
Neymar continues to cause problems coming in off the left flank, drawing a free-kick which Barca take quickly. He combines with Messi, who somehow digs out a cross into the box that is headed away by Espanyol.
63'
Espanyol mount a short spell of pressure but this time it is their crosses into the box that are being repelled. The hosts go all the way back to Diego Lopez and that presents Barca a chance to press high, which they don't pass up.
61'
Léo Baptistão enters the game and replaces F. Caicedo.
Caicedo's night is at an end, so maybe he did take some lasting contact from Pique. Baptistao takes his place.
60'
GREAT SAVE! Neymar curls a shot towards goal from the left-hand side of the box, with Diego Lopez jumping to his side and sticking a hand up to push it over the bar.
59'
Things are starting to heat up now. Pique trips up after trying to dispossess Aaron in the corner and he holds onto the ball to stop Espanyol taking a quick throw-in. Aaron tries to get a hold of it and ends up getting a push from his opposite number, with the referee telling them enough is enough.
58'
Aarón Martín gets yellow.
Aaron dives in late as Messi shifts the ball away from him, with the tackle enough for a yellow card.
57'
Caicedo has stayed down for treatment after running into the shoulder of Pique when attempting to spin past the centre-back. There didn't look to be much in it, and he's soon back on to continue.
55'
Neymar embarks on a mazy run down the left, beating Javi Lopez and David Lopez to get to the byline and dribble into the box. He tries to look for Suarez to cut the ball back but instead attempts to sneak a shot past Diego Lopez from the tightest of angles, and he fails.
54'
Alba is back to his feet and appears fine to continue, but Espanyol instantly force him into action by releasing Piatti on the right. His cross into the box is too deep, though.
52'
That will no doubt make Sanchez Flores furious. His team had proved so resilient up until that point, and one error has been punished. Alba is rolling on the ground after David Lopez stepped on his ankle when challenging the sliding left-back.
50'
L. Suárez has scored a goal for Barcelona!
GOOOOOAAAAL!! SUAREZ PUTS BARCA AHEAD! Having been solid at the back for 50 minutes, a terrible back pass from Jurado proves Espanyol's undoing. Suarez latches onto it and guides an excellent finish past Diego Lopez with the outside of his boot!
48'
Piatti clips the heels of Messi and gives Barca a free-kick out on the right. Neymar guides it into the box but once more it is dealt with by Espanyol.
46'
Espanyol get us back underway.
45' +1
We are into the first, and only, additional minute.
There is the whistle!
45'
Espanyol get caught pushing forward after Caicedo wins a free-kick with Busquets launching a rapid counter-attack. Messi picks out Suarez who rolls a pass in behind for Neymar and the Brazilian drills wide of the near post.
43'
Barca are peppering the Espanyol box with crosses but with so many blue and white shirts in there they aren't getting anywhere near them. It's been an impressive defensive display from the hosts so far.
41'
Pique's ball down the right releases Rakitic. He passes it back to Suarez, whose one-two with Messi is cut out after the Argentine's return touch.
39'
Barca have Espanyol pinned inside their own half but they're struggling to create a meaningful opening. Neymar takes matters into his own hands and floats the ball to the back post, where Roberto rises and heads into the side netting.
37'
Quique Sanchez Flores' side continue to frustrate Barca, with Alba launching an aimless long ball straight to goalkeeper Diego Lopez. It's not the first time the visitors have gone route one, either.
35'
Suarez uses his strength to apply pressure on the retreating David Lopez and he sticks a foot in to dispossess him on the left. He runs into the box but cannot find a team-mate in support with his pass.
33'
Espanyol make a rare venture forward and Javi Lopez curls a cross towards Caicedo and Gerard at the back post. Neither player is able to connect with it, though, and Ter Stegen has a goal-kick.
31'
A sublime touch from Messi almost unlocks the Espanyol defence, the Argentine lifting the ball into the box after controlling with his chest. Suarez's attempt to square for Neymar is wayward, but the offside flag goes up against the Uruguayan anyway.
30'
Javi Lopez drops to the floor holding his face after Neymar catches him with his arm while spinning to make a run for a cross. The Barca man quickly goes over to apologise, with the incident clearly accidental.
29'
Another tackle from Sanchez is whistled by the referee, with Busquets going to ground this time. It has to be said the Spain international made an awful lot of that, though.
28'
Espanyol double-up on Neymar as he tries to guide in from the left, knocking the ball away from him for a throw-in. The hosts are proving resilient, with Barca going all the way back to Ter Stegen from the throw to reset.
26'
Neymar stays down after a collision with Sanchez, but he eventually gets back to his feet and hobbles into position. Espanyol tried to counter-attack and Roberto, who doesn't appear to be struggling with that knee injury, beats Piatti in a foot race to mop up.
25'
Barca are absolutely dominating possession; they've had 72 per cent of the ball so far. Despite that level of control they are yet to really test Diego Lopez. Neymar sends a corner in from the right that Pique controls on his chest, but the ball gets away from him and Sanchez clears.
23'
Neymar wins a free-kick on the left, proving too quick for Jurado. Messi delivers the set-piece, attempting to swing it into the gap between the defence and goalkeeper. However, he sends it straight into Diego Lopez's hands.
21'
Neymar dribbles inside from the left but cannot find Messi and his pass ends up at the feet of Roberto near the byline on the right. He is unable to create anything and Suarez concedes a free-kick for jumping into Reyes.
19'
OPTA STAT: Messi has scored 15 goals against Espanyol in La Liga, more than any other player in Catalan derby history.
17'
Barcelona are starting to dictate terms now. Sanchez lunges in on Busquets and is whistled for a foul by the referee. The visitors switch it over to the right as they try to work an opening.
15'
Messi manages to keep hold of the ball despite intense pressure, darting into space before passing to Rakitic. He drills a venomous effort towards goal from 25 yards which deflects off Reyes to go behind for a corner.
14'
Gerard Moreno gets yellow.
Gerard is the first player into the book for a tackle on Rakitic that saw him get nowhere near the ball!
12'
Once more Messi drops deep to pick up possession and he spreads it to Neymar to his left. The Brazilian cuts inside and looks to curl a shot into the bottom-right corner, but David Lopez makes an important block.
10'
Messi gets on the ball in a dangerous area for the first time and attempts to thread a pass through the defence for Gomes. The Portuguese scored a double against Osasuna in midweek but an interception denies him a chance to get on the scoreboard here.
9'
OPTA STAT: Espanyol have not won any of their last 15 Catalan derbies against Barcelona in LaLiga (D3 L12), their worst ever run against a single team in the competition.
7'
It's been a great start for Espanyol, who force a corner which Jurado takes from the right. Ter Stegen comes off his line and flaps a hand at the ball, failing to make a meaningful connection. Fortunately no Espanyol player is lurking to tuck home at the back post.
5'
JURADO HAD TO SCORE! Caicedo dribbles towards the box and draws Pique towards him before stabbing a pass inside to Jurado. He takes a touch before attempting to fire across Ter Stegen and into the bottom-left corner, dragging the ball wide of the upright!
4'
Roberto has come back on after receiving some treatment. Barca will be hoping it doesn't trouble him any further and they aren't forced into an early change.
3'
Some early cause for concern for Luis Enrique, with Roberto staying down after a collision with Piatti. He appears to be holding his right knee, with Mascherano sent to warm up by the Barca coach.
1'
Barca get the ball rolling!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Catalan derby! Espanyol take on Barcelona at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat tonight with ambitions of severely damaging their local rivals' hopes of winning LaLiga for a a third successive season.
Barca went into the weekend top of the table by virtue of a superior head-to-head record against Real Madrid, who they defeated 3-2 in a thrilling Clasico last Sunday. However, Madrid triumphed 2-1 at home to Valencia earlier today, so Luis Enrique's side need three points in order to keep the pace. With the club from the capital holding a game in hand, failure to beat Espanyol will likely end Barca's hopes of finishing top of the pack. No pressure, then.
The teams have been announced, so let's see how they will be shaping up tonight.
Espanyol (4-4-2): Diego Lopez; Javi Lopez, David Lopez, Diego Reyes, Aaron Martin; Jose Jurado, Victor Sanchez, Javi Fuego, Pablo Piatti; Gerard Moreno, Felipe Caicedo.
Espanyol substitutes: Robert Jimenez, Marc Navarro, Ruben Duarte, Marc Roca, Papa Diop, Hernan Perez, Leo Baptistao.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andre Gomes; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.
Barcelona substitutes: Jasper Cillessen, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Digne, Carles Alena, Arda Turan, Denis Suarez, Paco Alcacer.
The big news tonight is, of course, the return of Neymar to Barcelona's starting line-up after serving a three-match ban that kept him out of El Clasico. There is no Andres Iniesta for Barcelona, though. The captain sustained a right adductor injury and missed training on Friday.
The teams are in the tunnel, so kick-off will be upon us in just a few moments!
HALF-TIME - Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona: Is this where Barca's title challenge ends? The Blaugrana go into the break having failed to trouble Diego Lopez in the opposition goal, with the hosts defending manfully and making things difficult. Anything other than a win for Barca will surely hand top spot to Madrid. Stay tuned to see what Luis Enrique's side can muster after the restart!
The teams are back out and the second half will begin momentarily.
FULL-TIME - Espanyol 0-3 Barcelona: Luis Enrique's side return to the top of LaLiga thanks to a win that looked potentially in doubt at half-time. Espanyol had defended stoically but Jurado's mistake was punished by Suarez, and once the gates opened there was no shutting them. Rakitic added the second before Suarez pounced on another error to secure the win.
That's all for tonight. Thanks a lot for joining us and have a great evening.
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