Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol: Messi magic seals another three points
The Argentine scored twice in the second half to wrap up the Catalan derby
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona beat Espanyol 2-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday to edge closer to the La Liga title.
FCB
2 ________________ 0
ESP
LINE UP
FC Barcelona
Ter Stegen, Semedo (Sergi Roberto, 59'), Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur (Malcom, 59'), Messi, Coutinho (Arturo Vidal, 81') y Luis Suárez
RCD Espanyol
Diego López, Rosales, Lluís, Naldo,Hermoso, Pedrosa, Víctor Sánchez (Semedo, 77'), Roca, Granero, Melendo (Sergio García, 64') y Borja Iglesias (Wu, 63')
Goles
1-0, Messi (70'); 2-0, Messi (88')
Árbitro
Del Cerro Grande (madrileño). TA: Víctor Sánchez (69') y Pedrosa (86')
Incidencias
Camp Nou, 92.795 espectadores
Barça extend their lead to 13 points, although Real Madrid and Atletico are still to play this weekend, with just nine games to go.
For large parts of the Catalan derby it looked like Barça wouldn't be able to break down Espanyol's five man defence.
But Messi once again delivered, taking his tally in the league this season to 31 (and 41 in all competitions).
He opened the scoring with 20 minutes to go, winning and converting a free kick,
After a long wait as Espanyol's wall worked out how to defend the Argentine, Messi opted to chip the ball over them. Victor Sanchez back peddled, but he couldn't head it clear.
Messi added his second late on, converting substitute Malcom's pullback.
It was a game of few chances. Ivan Rakitic and Messi both went close in the first half and Diego Lopez saved from one of his own players.
Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique did well at the other end to keep Borja Iglesias quiet.
Ernesto Valverde made early changes after the break. Malcom and Sergi Roberto came on and he looked to break down a well organised Espanyol side.
Malcom came close to scoring immediately, forcing a save from Lopez, and then set up the late second.
But once again it was about Messi. He has struggled with a thigh problem recently but this showing suggested it's not slowing him down too much.
