Match ends, Barcelona 5, Espanyol 0.
Barcelona 5-0 Espanyol
- From the section European Football
Barcelona are one win away from retaining their La Liga title after a 5-0 rout of neighbours Espanyol.
Lionel Messi netted before Luis Suarez (two), Rafinha and Neymar scored.
Barca are one point ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Valencia 3-2, while Atletico Madrid are out of contention after losing 2-1 at relegated Levante.
Barca play their final game at Granada next Saturday and will win the league if the teams finish level on points due to their superior head-to-head record.
Relive how the title race developed
Romping towards the title
Luis Enrique's side looked vulnerable after seeing their lead at the top of the table ebb away during a four-match winless league run wrapped around their Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.
But they have bounced back to form in impressive style - scoring 21 goals in winning their past four league games - to put themselves within touching distance of a sixth title in eight seasons.
Suarez, 29, has led the charge with 11 goals in his past four appearances to give the former Liverpool striker 56 in all competitions and 37 in La Liga - four more than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi has 26 league goals, including four in his past five games.
The Argentine set Barca on their way to victory with a superb free-kick before teeing up Suarez to make it 2-0 with a calm finish early in the second half.
Suarez then headed home from a corner, before tap-ins from Rafinha and Neymar saw Barca end their home programme with a flourish.
Who stands in Barca's way?
Granada have nothing to play for after securing their safety with a 4-1 win at Europa League finalists Sevilla.
They can be caught on points by Getafe and Sporting de Gijon but have a superior head-to-head record.
Granada lost 4-0 at the Nou Camp in January but did beat Barca at home in 2014.
Barcelona also have a Copa del Rey final to look forward to against Sevilla on 22 May.
Line-ups
Barcelona
- 1ter Stegen
- 6Alves da Silva
- 3Piqué
- 14MascheranoBooked at 90mins
- 18AlbaSubstituted forMathieuat 70'minutes
- 4RakiticSubstituted forRafinhaat 73'minutes
- 5Busquets
- 8IniestaSubstituted forTuranat 73'minutes
- 10MessiBooked at 12mins
- 9Suárez
- 11Neymar
Substitutes
- 7Turan
- 12Rafinha
- 17El Haddadi
- 20Roberto Carnicer
- 22Vidal Parreu
- 24Mathieu
- 25Masip
Espanyol
- 13LópezBooked at 69mins
- 16López RodríguezBooked at 63mins
- 6Roco
- 3Duarte
- 5Álvarez DelgadoBooked at 36mins
- 4Sánchez Mata
- 14Cañas Ruiz HerreraBooked at 39minsSubstituted forMontañés Claveríasat 72'minutes
- 12DiopBooked at 18mins
- 17PérezBooked at 27minsSubstituted forCorrea Silvaat 66'minutesBooked at 69mins
- 20CaicedoSubstituted forMoreno Balagueróat 45'minutes
- 25Asensio
Substitutes
- 1Arlauskis
- 2Correa Silva
- 7Moreno Balagueró
- 8Sevilla López
- 11Montañés Claverías
- 19Jordán Moreno
- 27López Mármol
- Referee:
- Jesús Gil Manzano
- Attendance:
- 89,453
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamEspanyol
- Possession
- Home68%
- Away32%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away25
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 5, Espanyol 0.
Attempt missed. Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
Marco Asensio (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Rafinha (Barcelona).
Paco Montañés (Espanyol) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Javier Mascherano (Barcelona).
Marco Asensio (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rober Correa (Espanyol).
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Enzo Roco.
Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rober Correa (Espanyol).
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Neymar.
Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 5, Espanyol 0. Neymar (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luis Suárez.
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Pape Diop (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol).
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Víctor Álvarez (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Víctor Álvarez (Espanyol).
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Gerard Moreno (Espanyol).
Foul by Javier Mascherano (Barcelona).
Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 4, Espanyol 0. Rafinha (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Rafinha replaces Ivan Rakitic.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Arda Turan replaces Andrés Iniesta.
Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marco Asensio (Espanyol).
Substitution
Substitution, Espanyol. Paco Montañés replaces José Cañas.
Foul by Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona).
Rubén Duarte (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Jeremy Mathieu replaces Jordi Alba.
Booking
Rober Correa (Espanyol) is shown the yellow card.