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First Division - Day 31

Espanyol 0 - Barcelona 1

Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Javi López, Colotto, Héctor Moreno (Sidnei 48’), Fuentes; Víctor Sánchez, David López; Stuani, Pizzi (Alex Fernández 65’), Simao (Córdoba 77’), Sergio García. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Pinto; Dani Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Fàbregas (Sergi Roberto 90‘); Pedro (Iniesta 77’), Messi, Neymar (Alexis 80’). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 76. Messi (penalty). After Javi López handled ball inside the penalty area.

Yellow cards: Stuani 25’, Colotto 34’, Busquets 45’, Javi López 74’, Víctor Sánchez 85’, Jordi Alba 93’ / red cards: Kiko Casilla 82’.

Barcelona remain a point behind leaders Atlético Madrid after they won 0-1 against city neighbours Espanyol, although it took a late controversial penalty for them to secure the three points. Both teams had chances in the first half, Neymar and Messi firing shots at Kiko Casilla, Messi lobbing a header just over the bar and Neymar failing to hit the target a couple of times, and Sergio García and in particular Pizzi shooting just wide of the target. After the interval Alex Fernández tested Pinto for the first time, and Piqué hit the bar at the other end following a corner. With a quarter of an hour to go however referee Clos Gómez awarded a penalty to the visitors after Javi López handled the ball, the referee ignoring appeals from Espanyol that Neymar had played the ball with his arm beforehand, and Messi stepped up to score from the spot. Soon afterwards Casilla was sent off for blocking a Messi lob with his hands outside of the area, and with all three changes made, López had to go in goal, the defender preventing Alexis from scoring a second.