Barcelona score late on in the first half of their La Liga clash against local rivals Espanyol to ensure that the scoreline is locked at 1-1 at the break.

Lionel Messi's strike on the stroke of half time has ensured that Catalan rivals Barcelona and Espanyol are locked at 1-1 at the break of their La Liga encounter.

Espanyol's forward Sergio Garcia celebrates with Espanyol's defender Alvaro Gonzalez after scoring during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 7, 2014 © Getty Images

The visitors came close to opening the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes when Sergio Garcia's ball to the back post looked to be heading into the path of Felipe Caicedo, only for Jordi Alba to get across to clear the danger.

There was to be no denying Garcia moments later, though, with the former Barca striker firing into the bottom corner after being allowed to break into the box under no challenge.

Messi nearly levelled up the contest on the half-hour mark when his free kick came back off the crossbar, while Luis Suarez failed to find the target having being picked out by Xavi on the edge of the area.

Barcelona continued to up the pressure as the half-time interval drew closer, with Alba being denied only by Kiko Casilla.

They finally managed to make the breakthrough with what was the last meaningful kick of the half, as Messi curled the ball into the bottom corner.