Hello everyone. Welcome to live text commentary of this Liga clash between Barcelona and Espanyol.

Espanyol just can't get into this, such is Barca's dominance in the opening stages.

GOAL! Xavi opens the scoring for Barcelona! A beautifully worked goal as Barca work the ball from right to left to find Iniesta in space. Iniesta plays a low cross into Xavi, who kisses the ball into the bottom corner. Vintage Barca.

Iniesta has been heavily involved in the early exchanges. Espanyol struggling to see any of the ball.

Great play by Iniesta again as he waltzes into the box, but his low cross evades Messi and Pedro.

Silky flick by Iniesta to play in Jordi Alba, but the left-back can't squeeze in a cross.

Fabregas spreads play wide to Alves on the right, but the Brazilian's cross is disappointing.

Messi drives forward but he can't quite thread his pass through a crowd of bodies to Iniesta.

Barcelona have won 60 of the 78 home matches vs Espanyol in La Liga (losing 9) and have outscored their rivals 187-70.

Fabregas is played into the box, but he can't quite keep the ball in play before cutting it back.

Dominant start by Barca, who are taking the game to their opponents in the opening stages. Espanyol are unbeaten in their last four.

KICK OFF. We are underway at Camp Nou.

BARCELONA: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Jordi Alba; Sergio, Fabregas, Xavi; Iniesta, Messi, Pedro. Subs: Pinto, Mascherano, Villa, Song, Sanchez, Montoya, Thiago. ESPANYOL: Casilla, J.Lopez, Colotto, Moreno, Capdevila, V.Sanchez, Forlin, Baena, Verdu, Simao, Sergio Garcia. Subs: German, Rodriguez, Stuani, Albin, Gomez, Alfonso, Alvaro.