Soccerway

This match was marred when Barcelona fans threw flares at the stands that seated the home Espanyol Barcelona fans. The match had to be stopped midway through the second half when referee Luis Medina Cantalejo had to take the players off the field.

The first goal came after nineteen minutes when FC Barcelona’s goalkeeper Victor Valdes fumbled the ball and Ferran Corominas was on hand to score the opening goal. FC Barcelona equalised in a bizarre manner. Thierry Henry’s shot at goalkeeper Kameni, the ball bounced back to defender Dani Jarque who couldn’t control the ball and it then bounced back at the feet of Henry who had no difficulty in stroking the ball into a vacant net. Barcelona began to dominate after that, but the game appeared to be heading towards a stalemate until Medina Cantalejo awarded the visitors a controversial penalty after Eto'o went down in the area.

Lionel Messi scored the late winner from the penalty spot. This win moved Barcelona up to third place - three points behind leaders Villarreal. Espanyol lie in eighth.