Messi takes on a very long-range direct free kick from over 40 yards on the right, but his left‑footed effort flies high and wide of the right post.

Messi doubles Barcelona’s lead, driving a left‑footed shot from outside the box into the center of the net to make it 2–0.

Just two minutes after scoring, Messi is shown a yellow card for his challenge, momentarily halting Barcelona’s momentum.

Messi unleashes a left‑footed shot from outside the box that is heading for the bottom right corner, but the Espanyol keeper saves after a pass from Andrés Iniesta.

From a direct free kick outside the area, Messi’s left‑footed strike rises too high and clears the crossbar.

Messi finds space outside the box and curls a left‑footed shot just wide of the left post after being picked out by Sergio Busquets.

Messi comes agonisingly close to another goal, meeting Ivan Rakitic’s cross with a header from the center of the box that crashes off the left post.