On chances alone Barca clearly deserved to win in Montjuic but it took a lucky deflection and a cool finish from Messi from the penalty spot for them to take the three points.
Knowing that Real Madrid had stolen a fortunate victory away at Betis, Guardiola’s men knew they had to win to keep in touch and they did just that although it took them until injury time to go ahead.
Espanyol down to ten men with Nene sent-off spent the game defending, and having gone ahead through virtually their own chance, it looked as though Barca would never find a breakthrough. That was though until a rebound off Jarque allowed Henry to stroke the ball home, then late on Eto’o was fouled and Messi completed the turnaround.
The talking point of the game though will sadly be the Boixos Nois – the ultra fans – who once again brought embarrassment to the club by setting off flares and with Espanyol fans also invading the pitch the match had to be suspended.
For once president Joan Laporta is right in the way he has tried to kick out the Boixos Nois from the Camp Nou and it is strange to think that former president Joan Gaspart was actually one of their fans.
