Barcelona moved seven points clear at the top of La Liga after Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski struck late against Espanyol.
2025/2026 La Liga
0-2
Match Report
Hansi Flick's side were frustrated until four minutes from time when Fermin Lopez set up his fellow substitutes to score the crucial goals.
First he played in Olmo to curl a superb strike into the top corner, before more good work by Lopez on the right teed up Lewandowski for a delightful close-range finish in the 90th minute.
Barcelona have scored 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in La Liga this season.
In a lively Catalan derby, the hosts made a fast start with former Blackburn Rovers forward Tyrhys Dolan having a shot blocked after four minutes.
And it was visiting keeper Joan Garcia who returned to haunt his former club, with the 24-year-old - who left Espanyol last summer after nine years - making a string of vital saves.
His replacement Marko Dmitrovic made a crucial stop in the 72nd minute to deny Eric Garcia from close range and a draw looked likely until Barca's late pressure paid off.
Second-placed Real Madrid could reduce the gap at the top to four points if they beat Real Betis at home on Sunday (15:15 GMT).
Espanyol, whose last win over their neighbours in the league was back in 2009, remain in fifth place.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Yamal picks out Ferran but the striker can't take the ball down
20' CLOSE! Roberto through on goal but his effort is straight at Joan Garcia
21' Match Event for Espanyol vs Barcelona
28' Yamal spins away from Milla and whips a ball right across the face of goal
37' Ferran can't keep his header on target from Rashford's free-kick
40' Joan García makes a great save to deny a close-range header
45' Cabrera and Garcia both head off the pitch and Cabrera has cut his head
46' One change for Barcelona at the break as Fermin comes on for Rashford
51' Fermin Lopez involves in a couple of situations that fire up the home crowd
54' From a corner, Jules Kounde has a header saved by Marko Dmitrovic
58' Possibly one of the worst foul throws from Raphinha
63' Raphinha with a free-kick from 25 yards but it defelects away for a corner
66' What a save! Joan Garcia stops Roberto from tapping into an empty net
70' The former Espanyol keeper Garcia makes another save to keep Roberto's shot
71' Great save! Dmitrovic prevents Garcia from scoring from point-blank range
75' Match Event for Espanyol vs Barcelona
77' Pedri gets on to Yamal's pass and goes down in the box
86' GOAL! Olmo breaks the deadlock from Fermin's assist! Espanyol 0-1 Barcelona
89' GOAL! Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona
Line-ups
Espanyol XI: Cabrera, Dmitrovic, Pere Milla, Pol Lozano, Calero, Exposito, Tyrhys Dolan, Urko González de Zárate, Omar El Hilali, Roberto Fernández, Carlos Romero
Subs: Kike, Rubén Sánchez, Puado, Miguel Rubio, Jofre Carreras, Ramón Terrats, José Salinas, Ángel Fortuño, Antoniu Roca, Clemens Riedel, Luca Koleosho, Ferran Gómez
Barcelona XI: De Jong, Rashford, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Joan García, Balde, Yamal, Gerard Martín, Cubarsi
Subs: Szczesny, Lewandowski, Ter Stegen, Olmo, Pedri, Casado, Fermín López, Roony Bardghji, Dro Fernández, Bernal, Jofre Torrents, Tommy Marqués