Barcelona came from behind to draw 1-1 with Espanyol in Sunday afternoon's Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium.
Gerard Moreno's 66th-minute header sent the home side ahead, but Gerard Pique came up with an 82nd-minute leveller for the visitors, who continued their unbeaten start to the 2017-18 campaign.
The result has moved Barcelona 12 points clear at the top of the table, while Espanyol stay down in 15th spot.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Catalonia as Espanyol welcome league leaders Barcelona. Espanyol recorded a 1-0 victory over their Catalan rivals when the pair met in this stadium in the Copa del Rey just last month. Barcelona, however, have not lost a single game in the league thus far this season. Stay tuned right here for live updates!
As mentioned, Espanyol beat Barcelona 1-0 when the two teams last clashed in this stadium. Quique Sanchez Flores's side still exited the Copa del Rey in the quarter-finals, however, courtesy of a 2-0 defeat at Barcelona in the second leg. Their recent home victory will be fresh in their memory though, and the Espanyol fans will be hoping for another big result in this fixture.
Incredibly, Espanyol have not actually beaten Barcelona in the league since February 2009. That 2-1 success came at Camp Nou, meaning that Espanyol have not overcome Barcelona on home soil in the league since January 2007, which is staggering. What will this match throw up this afternoon?
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Catalonia. I can confirm that a certain Lionel Messi is only on the bench this afternoon!
© Offside
TEAMS!
ESPANYOL (4-4-2): Diego Lopez; Navarro, David Lopez, Naldo, Aaron; Sanchez, Granero, Darder, Jurado; Baptistao, Moreno
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Digne; Busquets, Iniesta, Paulinho; Coutinho, Suarez, Alcacer
It is a very attacking Espanyol XI this afternoon, with Gerard Moreno and Leo Baptistao both starting in the final third of the field. There is also a spot in the team for Jose Jurado, but Mario Hermoso - who scored two own goals against Deportivo La Coruna last weekend - is on the bench.
Lionel Messi is left on the Barcelona bench this afternoon as Paco Alcacer and Philippe Coutinho join Luis Suarez in the final third of the field, while there is also a start for Lucas Digne at full-back. A very strong bench also includes Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic as Ernesto Valverde shuffles his pack here.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff here. I shall speak about the home side a little bit later, but let's start with the league leaders Barcelona. The 2017-18 La Liga season is now 21 games deep, and Valverde's side are still unbeaten.
#EspanyolBarça
📍 RCDE Stadium pic.twitter.com/j8ZqHt7XD4 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 4, 2018
Indeed, a record of 18 wins and three draws has left them clear at the top of the table. They are 11 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, and 18 clear of third-placed Real Madrid. Valverde's team are also the leading scorers in the division with 59 goals, while they have the second-best defensive record – just 10 conceded – behind Atletico. It has been quite an exceptional season.
Barcelona have now won their last seven in the league, but it was not all plain sailing at home to Alaves last weekend. Indeed, the division leaders trailed deep into the second period of that match, before goals from Suarez and Messi ensured that the Catalan side would record a 2-1 home win.
Worryingly for Espanyol, Barcelona have scored nine times in their last two away league fixtures. Indeed, they won 4-2 at Real Sociedad on January 14 before a 5-0 victory at Real Betis on January 21. It is also not too long since Barcelona recorded a 3-0 win away to Real Madrid.
📍 RCDE Stadium
💪 @mterstegen1
⚽️ #EspanyolBarça
🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/AaVA1KxWrD — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 4, 2018
In terms of what is ahead for Barcelona, they will travel to Valencia for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final next week, before hosting Getafe in the league on February 11. Then comes a trip to Eibar in the top flight on February 17, before the small matter of the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash away to Chelsea on February 20. Exciting few weeks ahead for the Catalan giants!
As for Espanyol, Sanchez's side will enter this match down in 15th position in the table. The Catalan outfit have only collected 24 points from their 21 league matches this season, but they are seven points clear of the bottom three, and it does seem unlikely that they will get pulled into a relegation scrap.
That said, the White and Blues have lost their last two in the league – suffering a 3-0 home defeat to Sevilla before losing 3-2 at Leganes last weekend. They did record a 1-0 victory over Atletico on home soil on December 22, however, and will be looking for another impressive result in this match.
⚪️🔵 El @RCDEspanyol ja s'escalfa al #RCDE Stadium! Som-hi, equip! 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/d4Y0u7ikMJ — RCD Espanyol (@RCDEspanyol) February 4, 2018
Espanyol finished eighth in La Liga last season, but it seems unlikely that they will be able to match that achievement this term. Six wins, six draws and nine defeats from 21 fixtures has shown their inconsistency, but they did record a famous win over Barcelona in this stadium last month, and the home supporters will be hoping for another special result here. Kickoff in Catalonia is next!
KICKOFF! Espanyol kick things off in Catalonia...
... it is a very rainy afternoon in Barcelona, which should make the pitch nice and quick. There is a really good atmosphere inside the stadium, meanwhile, and the Espanyol fans will be hoping that their team can repeat their victory in the Copa del Rey when the two teams last met in this stadium.
Half-chance for the away side as Alcacer pokes the ball towards Luis Suarez, but the striker cannot make clean contact under pressure from two defenders. Digne did well in the build-up there.
All Barcelona in terms of possession, but Espanyol are holding strong in a defensive area. You do get the feeling that there will not be bundles of goals in this match. It could be a cagey affair.
Coutinho has been a touch sloppy for the home side, with Espanyol quick to surround the Brazil international. Barcelona continue to build from the back as they look to work an opening here.
Barcelona work the ball down the right before Semedo delivers, but David Lopez makes the clearance. Nothing much to shout about at the moment as Espanyol clear their lines time and time again.
Semedo delivers a low cross towards Suarez, but the striker cannot make contact.
Iniesta delivers a super ball towards Alcacer, but the striker was always stretching inside the Espanyol box, and he fails to make clean contact. Barcelona are still having all of the ball here.
Espanyol cannot seem to get either Moreno or Baptistao in the match at the moment, with Barcelona working the ball into their midfielders extremely well. Still one-way traffic here.
Another half-chance for Barcelona as Alcacer meets a cross from Semedo, but Suarez cannot react at the far post, and Espanyol have a goal kick. Just little openings for the visitors; nothing more.
Still goalless with 20 minutes on the clock in Catalonia. Barcelona have had a lot of the ball, but are yet to create a clear chance. A certain Argentine by the name of Messi is sat on the away side's bench at the moment, and he might well be needed to turn this fixture. Espanyol are quite comfortable.
Quite a scrappy game at the moment as the referee is forced to intervene following a couple of late challenges. To be honest, it is not the most enthralling of football matches at the moment.
CROSSBAR! Wow! Coutinho hits one from the edge of the box, and his effort smashes against the crossbar. Almost a wonderful first Barcelona goal for the Brazilian!
The referee is becoming more and more involved as both sets of players clash. Umtiti is furious as he feels he has been held inside the Espanyol box, but the referee is not interested.
SAVE! First sign of an Espanyol chance as Baptistao strikes one from the edge of the box, and it is a decent save from Ter Stegen. This match is just starting to open up here.
Barcelona have just quickened the pace here as they move the ball in the final third.
BOOKING! Busquets (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Baptistao.
Semedo delivers a cross from the right after working space, but the ball is straight into the arms of the Espanyol goalkeeper. Still goalless with 32 minutes on the clock in Catalonia.
Half-chance for the home side as Baptistao works some space before having a go, but the ball is deflected wide of the post. Both teams are having more joy in the final third of the field here.
CHANCE! Super chance for the home side as Baptistao rises to meet a cross from Granero, but the Brazilian's effort is over the crossbar. Good work from Espanyol once again.
Diego Lopez comes through a crowd of players to claim another corner as Barcelona's frustrations in the final third of the field continue. The league leaders are missing their star man in this game.
The pitch is extremely wet, and it is only getting worse as the rain continues to fall here. Huge puddles are being seen when the players move across the ground, which is certainly harming the flow!
BOOKING! Naldo (Espanyol) is booked for dissent.
Espanyol have been threatening in the last couple of minutes, but nothing that Ter Stegen would have been overly concerned with. A couple of crosses have arrived inside the German's box, and he has done well to claim. Still goalless as we approach the final moments of the first half here.
Suarez misses the crossbar with a free kick from outside the Espanyol box.
Paulinho heads an Iniesta cross over the Espanyol goal from inside the box.
HALF-TIME: Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Barcelona have had the better moments in the final third of the field, but Espanyol have had a couple of half-chances to make the breakthrough. All to play for in the second 45 minutes here.
STATISTICS! Barcelona dominated the first-half possession with 75%, but actually failed to hit the target with any of their six attempts. Coutinho though, did hit the crossbar from distance. As for Espanyol, the hosts managed one shot on target from four attempts. Pretty even in that sense.
BENCH WATCH! Barcelona have a whole host of attacking options on their bench this afternoon, with Messi, Rakitic, Roberto and Denis Suarez all capable of making a difference in the second period. Espanyol, meanwhile, have the likes of Sergio Garcia, Melendo and Sanchez in reserve here.
RESTART! Barcelona resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops here.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Espanyol have the ball in the back of the net through Moreno, but Baptistao was adjudged to have carried the ball over the line before the cross!
Good tempo to the match early in the second period, with both teams threatening to make the breakthrough. You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital.
Both teams are trying to play through passes, but the ball is just sticking due to the water on the pitch. Messi, meanwhile, has just started to warm up in the rain. Will he be on soon? Probably!
BOOKING! Umtiti (Barcelona) is booked for dissent.
Good pressure from Barcelona in the last few minutes, but Espanyol continue to hold firm at the back. You do get the feeling that one goal could be enough to decide this match.
Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they work the ball in the final third of the field.
Barcelona are preparing to make a double change here. Messi and Roberto will enter the field, and Alcacer will probably be one of those to depart. Not the best news for Espanyol that Messi is imminent!
BARCELONA SUBS! Messi and Roberto replace Alcacer and Semedo.
Certain areas of the pitch are becoming unplayable as the rain continues to fall. It is becoming a real problem, and we still have more than 30 minutes of football to play in Catalonia.
ESPANYOL SUB! Garcia replaces Jurado for the home side.
Diego Lopez is on hand to keep out a low strike from Luis Suarez.
Busquets is robbed of the ball in the middle of the park, but Espanyol cannot make the most of the situation. It is not exactly flowing at the moment, and a lot of that is down to the conditions.
Moreno goes for the spectacular inside the Barcelona box, but the striker's over-head kick was always dropping wide of the post. The surface is making it very difficult to play football here.
GOAL! Espanyol 1-0 Barcelona (Moreno)
What a moment! Espanyol take the lead in the 66th minute as Moreno heads a brilliant Garcia cross into the back of the net! Excellent from Garcia, and Ter Stegen could not keep out the header!
Little over 20 minutes of football remaining here, and Barcelona have a lot to do. This pitch is making it impossible to play football, and Espanyol are turning it into a scrap here.
BOOKING! Navarro (Espanyol) is booked for a foul on Luis Suarez.
Barcelona are pressing forward, but not too much to report in terms of chances at the moment. It is a very scrappy game due to the conditions, which will suit Espanyol. Make no mistake about that.
BARCELONA SUB! Alba replaces Digne for the away side.
ESPANYOL SUB! Navarro is replaced by Lopez for the home side.
Little over 10 minutes of this La Liga clash remaining, and Barcelona are still behind. Not too much to report in terms of chances either as Espanyol remain comfortable in a defensive area here.
BOOKING! Garcia (Espanyol) is booked for a foul on Umtiti.
Coutinho delivers a super cross into the Espanyol box, but Pique is beaten to the header. Much better pressure from Barcelona at the moment as they keep the ball in and around the area.
GOAL! Espanyol 1-1 Barcelona (Pique)
All square! Barcelona level the scores in the 82nd minute as Pique heads a Messi cross into the corner of the net! It had to be Pique, who has been booed throughout this match.
BOOKING! Moreno (Espanyol) is booked for a rash challenge on Pique.
All kicking off at the moment following that rash challenge from Moreno.
ESPANYOL SUB! Baptistao is replaced by Sanchez for the home side.
Can Barcelona nick a late winner here? It would be very harsh on the home side.
Espanyol would have taken a point if it had been offered ahead of kickoff, but you do get the feeling that the home side fancy that they could nick a scrappy second goal late on here.
We are into the first of three additional minutes here.
Bit scrappy at the moment as both teams battle for the ball in the middle of the park. It does appear that the points will be shared, which is probably a fair result when considering what has occurred.
FULL-TIME: Espanyol 1-1 Barcelona
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. Not a classic, but it was very interesting to watch due to the conditions. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
