Hello and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE Liga matchcast as the fascinating three-way title race makes a port of call to the Barcelona derby, with Espanyol hosting Messi and co. Team news will follow very shortly!

Thanks for joining me today - follow me on Twitter @liamhappe

And just as Espanyol bomb forward, the Barca defence copes with it and there's the final whistle! Huge three points for Barcelona's title charge!

Barca are keeping the pressure up until the end here. Just one goal but no real danger of them being pegged back.

SAVE! Lopez turning out to be an inspired choice to cover in goal, as if the handball for the pen didn't give it away. Sanchez outruns the tired Espanyol defence to go through but Lopez gets a hand to his chip attempt to concede a corner.

Four minutes added on here.

Fuentes catches Messi on the leg with a dangerous tackle and somehow escapes a booking.

Sanchez races through this time but is denied by the shins of stand-in keeper Lopez!

Pique forward on the break and shows some great skill on the byline but Alexis cannot connect with his cut-back.

The home side are trying to get forward at every opportunity but are easily being handled by their rivals now.

Victor Sanchez is booked for a foul on Fabregas and will also miss his side's next match.

Messi drives for the far post... and is wide of it.

It is Javi Lopez to take the gloves and he'll face a Messi free-kick as his first goalkeeping act. He gave away the penalty for handball in the box but can now use his palms if need be...

RED CARD! Casilla rushes out of his box and uses his hands to deny Messi a lob! Insane and clear cut. They've used all their subs, too...

Sanchez makes an early impact with his pace on the right, drawing two defenders to him and winning a corner.

That's the Brazilian's last contribution as Neymar makes way for Alexis Sanchez.

Neymar with space just outside the box on the right to have a dig... one-handed save from Casilla keeps it out the top corner and Espanyol very much in the game!

Simao makes way for Jhon Cordoba in an attacking final switch for Espanyol. Iniesta is on for Pedro, which I believe happened before the penalty.

Crucial goal at a crucial time in Barcelona's title challenge but Espanyol have every right to feel frustrated with that. It was handball however, little Lopez could do about it but his hand was upwards and it certainly affected the fate of the ball.

Messi steps up... wrong-foots Casilla! Barca lead 1-0 with 14 to play!

PENALTY BARCELONA! Javi Lopez booked for handball in the box!