Messi wins a free kick high up the pitch, drawing a foul in Espanyol territory to keep Barcelona on the front foot.

Messi darts into the six-yard box and fires a left-footed shot from the left side that flashes wide to the right after a clever pass from Cesc Fàbregas.

Messi coolly squares the ball across the six-yard box for Pedro, who finishes from close range into the bottom right corner to make it 2–0.

Messi wins another free kick in the attacking half, again drawing Espanyol defenders into a foul to maintain Barcelona’s pressure.

Messi steps up to the spot and calmly converts the penalty with a left-footed shot low into the bottom left corner for Barcelona’s fourth.

Messi threads a through ball looking to send Fàbregas in behind, but the move is cut short as Fàbregas is flagged offside.

Messi slides a precise pass into the box for David Villa, whose right-footed effort from the left side is saved low to the right.

From a direct free kick outside the box, Messi whips a left-footed strike over the wall that crashes off the crossbar with Casilla beaten.

Messi takes another direct free kick from outside the box, but this time his left-footed attempt sails high and wide to the left.