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!

Poor delivery allows Espanyol a chance to breakaway but Alba outmuscles old rival Stuani to end the threat.

Barcelona win the game's first corner.

Good layered Barca attack culminates in Pedro's first-time cross being caught by Casilla. Tension still evident between some opposing players. Expect a few more cards by full-time.

Stuani is booked by the ref after he calms it all down for a late challenge on Alba.

Things are getting heated now though as a series of physical battles for the ball lead to a bit of a mass pull-apart. Neymar, Stuani, Alba all heavily involved.

He's ok and we continue here.

Both players have a man down in the Barca box. The home side think it was a foul. It looked fairly 50-50. Mascherano needs some extended treatment, though.

HUGE chance for Espanyol! Barca caught light at the back once more and Stuani weights a diagonal from the right perfectly to Pizzi, who somehow misses the target, too.

Great tempo to the opening 20, play has swung from end to end and Espanyol have only been under the cosh when they've allowed themselves to be.

End-to-end stuff as here come Barca again... Messi low cross from the right finds a sliding Neymar... over the bar from 5 yards! He was under heavy pressure from his marker in fairness, but still...

Garcia's on the ball in the box at the other end, but his effort is well off target. He had two men closing down on him but should have hit the target at least.

Cries of offside as the ball comes back into the Espanyol box and Messi is all alone but he's beaten the trap... only to head over the keeper and onto the roof of the net.

As I type that, the hosts are backs to the wall once more but are able to close down a Messi drive from the edge of the box.

After a brief departure from it, Espanyol are back to pressing their rivals on the ball and it's allowing them to threaten a counter or two.

Hector Moreno makes a terrific slide challenge as Pedro looks certain to have a shot on goal from 10 yards. Great defending!

Barca, for the first time in the game are starting to hold onto the ball in trademark fashion.

Liga action is nonstop today. When this game ends at 5, Sevilla are in action. At 7 we have Atletico Madrid and Real finish it off at 9. It's a Ligathon! Keep tuned with us for it all, if you've got the stamina...

Messi with quick reactions to poke a good diagonal ball towards goal from a tight angle but Casilla anticipated it well and gathers after the initial block.

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Moments after Neymar has a header easily saved by Casilla, the offside flag thwarts another Barca attack.

The home fans are in absolutely great spirits - good early atmosphere, plenty of bouncing fans. hey of course are comfortable in mid-table alongside the likes of Valencia and will enjoy the nothing-to-lose attempt to disrupt their mighty neighbours.