Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol: 5 Talking Points

#1 Messi magic snatches three points once again

Messi watches his audacious free-kick as it floats goalwards to break the deadlock against Espanyol

What more can be said about Messi? He was sharp from the first whistle and lead by example with regards to intensity, threatening Espanyol's backline wherever possible and completing dribbles aplenty to provide width, creating chances or space for himself to strike goalwards.

A game-high ten dribbles, you might have been cautious that they led to no final product with the score still finely poised after the hour mark. A few near misses and important defensive stops meant Barca were still patiently probing for a breakthrough until their talisman was fouled on the edge of the box.

A cynical but necessary foul by Victor Sanchez inadvertently presented Messi with a better opportunity to break the deadlock. He did that with delicate ease, a Panenka-style free-kick which floated above the wall and took advantage of Diego Lopez's poor starting position to guide towards the right-hand corner.

Despite his and ironically Sanchez's best efforts on the line, it bundled in over the line and Espanyol were punished ruthlessly. Messi wasn't done there, either. He remained composed to convert from close-range after Rakitic and Malcom combined on the counter-attack, started by ter Stegen's forward-thinking throw, to double Barca's lead and seal all three points.

Barcelona were dominant but didn't have the goals to show for their display in the final third. Messi, as he so often does, came up clutch when needed most to propel them ever closer to a second successive La Liga title and four in the last five years.