Messi is booked for a handball in the 14th minute as he unsuccessfully tries to control the ball, and the referee shows him a yellow card. The incident slightly tempers Barcelona's early attacking rhythm.

Messi wins a free kick in the attacking half after being fouled, setting up a promising dead-ball situation for Barcelona. His movement draws Espanyol’s defense out of shape before the whistle.

In the 77th minute, Messi cuts in at a difficult angle on the right and lashes a right-footed shot that crashes off the right post, agonizingly close to a winner. The chance comes from Pedro’s well-weighted cross into the box.

Deep in the 90th minute, Messi threads a clever through ball into the box for Gerard Piqué, whose left-footed effort cannons off the bar instead of going in. Messi’s vision and timing carve open Espanyol’s back line, but Barcelona are denied by the woodwork.