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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Jan 6, 2013 at 6pm UK
 
Espanyol logo

4-0

Xavi (10'), Messi (29' pen.), Pedro (15', 27')
FT(HT: 4-0)

First-half Pedro brace downs sorry Espanyol

Barcelona score four goals in 30 minutes to tear apart Espanyol at the Nou Camp.

Four goals inside the opening half an hour has given Barcelona a comfortable victory against city rivals Espanyol on Tito Vilanova's return to the dugout.

Barca striker Pedro clips the ball in for the third goal against Espanyol on January 6, 2013© AP Photos

Barcelona immediately looked to dominate possession and were passing very crisply inside the opening 10 minutes with the visitors barely seeing the ball.

In the 11th minute it was 1-0 and it was typical tight passing from Barca. Lionel Messi found Andres Iniesta, who clipped the ball into the path of Xavi, and he made no mistake.

Five minutes later Barcelona doubled their advantage when Cesc Fabregas crossed low for Messi, whose shot went in off Pedro.

In the 28th minute Pedro added his second and this time it was all his doing. Fabregas was once more the architect and Pedro clipped the ball over the goalkeeper with aplomb.

A penalty won by Fabregas and converted by Messi brought Barca's fourth and it was looking like it could be double figures.

Lionel Messi celebrates Barca's fourth goal against Espanyol on January 6, 2013© AP Photos

Espanyol finally managed some possession towards the end of the half, but were unable to get close enough to create a chance.

Kiko Casilla almost gifted Pedro his hat-trick by clearing straight to the winger, but he recovered well to force a corner.

With just under 20 minutes left, David Villa had the best chance of the second half, but hit his shot straight at Casilla.

Messi fired an 84th-minute free-kick against the crossbar as Barca pushed for a fifth, but there was not to be a further goal.

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Barca striker Pedro clips the ball in for the third goal against Espanyol on January 6, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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