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Barça concede late and place advantage firmly with Madrid

Barcelona conceded late on as they slumped to a 1-1 draw away at Espanyol. The Catalan Derby provided a shock as Barça did not enjoy their usual high levels of possession. But instead had to settle for 63% in comparison to their usual 80+%.

The Spanish giants started brightly after surviving a scare from Verdú which required a world class save from Valdés and a follow up off-the-line block from Piqué. Barça then began to find their rhythm and if not for a poor first touch from Sánchez, they would've surely taken the lead in the 11th minute.

A minute later the ball was in the net. Messi snatched onto a misplaced back pass from keeper Álvarez then squared the ball for Fàbregas to tap in. Only for referee Turienzo Álvarez to disallow it citing a Messi handball as the reason. Replays showed the eagle eyed referee was right but the yellow card to follow did seem harsh.

Barcelona grit their teeth and began to play their game. Pass, pass, pass eventually lead to a goal. Fàbregas timed his run perfectly to head Dani Alves' cross on the edge of the area. This goal marked Fàbregas' 14th and Barcelona's 100th this season respectively.

For many teams that would be enough to make them crumble, but Espanyol believed there was something left in the game. They began to get more of the ball and started to test Barça's defence. The defence stood firm with Abidal playing the role of defensive rock.

Espanyol were lucky to keep eleven men on the pitch when Romaric clearly elbowed Piqué in the face with intent. An incident that the referee only deemed worthy of a yellow.

The teams went into half time both full of confidence and remaining hopeful that a result was within their reach.

Guardiola's men lacked their killer edge and Messi rarely got a hold of the ball. Often frozen out of the game on the wing produced an unusually below par game for the Argentine. Another Argentine, Espanyol's keeper, had an off night too and on the rare occasion when Barça tested him, he looked fragile.

Both teams continued to create chances. But Espanyol looked the most lethal of the two, getting away four shots on target out of thirteen efforts. Compared to Barça's three out of nine.

In a game that lived up to it's passionate build up, Barcelona seemed content with their one goal advantage and began to introduce some fresh legs. Pedro coming on for Sánchez provided the left wing with some more pace and energy, while Espanyol were forced to replace their goalie after he pulled a calf muscle in the latter stages of the game.

After the arrival of Keita for Fàbregas, Barça's fortunes took a turn for the worst and Álvaro connected with Thievy's flick to head home after shaking off the intentions of Puyol.

Barcelona upped the tempo desperate not to finish with a draw and leave themselves five points behind Real Madrid. Piqué's shot rattled off the bar to land at the feet of Pedro, whose follow up shot appeared to be blocked by the hand of Rodríguez but noting was given.

In a region where Real Madrid are seen as the enemy of both sides, it would appear Espanyol have done them a huge favour by denying Barça the win. Effectively handing the title to Madrid.

Full time result: Espanyol 1-1 Barcelona

Goal Scorers: Espanyol: Álvaro (87) Barcelona: Fàbregas (16)

Team Lineups:
Espanyol: Álvarez (Casilla 79), Didac, Moreno, Rodriguez, Amat, Romaric (Álvaro 65), Forlin, Weiss (López 45), Verdú, Thievy, Sergio Garcia Subs: Rui Fonte, Galán, Dátolo, Cristian Gómez
Formation: 4-2-3-1


Barcelona: Valdés, Piqué, Puyol, Alves, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Fàbregas (Keita 85), Messi, Sánchez (Pedro 72) Subs: Thiago, Pinto, Mascherano, Maxwell, Adriano, Fontás, Cuenca
Formation: 4-3-3

Stadium: Estadi Cornellà-El Prat

Attendance: 35,122

Referee: Turienzo Álvarez

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