Barcelona scores two more beautiful goals to beat rival Espanyol (Video)
Barcelona traveled across town Saturday to meet rival Espanyol in the Catalan derby and not surprisingly left the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with all three points. The 2-0 victory ensured that Barca will remain top of the La Liga table no matter what Real Madrid does Sunday at Celta de Vigo.
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It's also not surprising anymore when Barcelona produces great goals. Because it seems every time Luis Enrique's side takes the field, it creates a new tapestry of offensive artistry worthy of being hung on the walls of the Louvre.
As is usually the case, the vision of Lionel Messi played a role in both goals. His wondrous 36-yard ball to Jordi Alba in the penalty area helped set up the opening 17th-minute strike by Neymar, who was left with a point-blank finish after Luis Suarez's exquisite dummy.
Eight minutes later, Messi took it upon himself to give Barcelona a two-goal cushion with his 36th of the La Liga season. After controlling a volley across the goal mouth from Suarez, Messi scored from the sharpest of angles by somehow slipping the ball past goalkeper Kiko Casilla and knocking it off the far post for a 2-0 Barcelona lead.
Alba's 54th-minute sending off for referee dissent never played a factor as Barcelona dominated possession (72 percent) despite being down to 10 men. Espanyol ended up playing the final minutes with 10 as well after Hector Moreno drew a second yellow card from card-happy ref Mateu Lahoz.
