MADRID, April 25 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona moved five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the BBVA Primera Liga thanks to a 2-0 win away to local rivals Espanyol.
Barcelona continued the excellent form they have produced over the last couple of weeks to cruise to a comfortable first half lead after 45 minutes during which their rivals barely had a sniff of the ball.
Many had expected Espanyol to start strongly in what is arguably their biggest game of the season, but with virtually their strongest 11 on the pitch Barca gave them no options.
Kiko Casilla had already saved from Neymar and Luis Suarez in the first five minutes before Neymar opened the scoring after 17 minutes.
There had seemed to be no danger as Messi had the ball in midfield but his long diagonal pass was met with a first time cross from Jordi Alba and when Luis Suarez dummied, Neymar was left to slide the ball home.
Mess, Suarez and Neymar linked again after 25 minutes with Suarez, teeing up Messi for his 36th goal of the season, although it has to be said Suarez looked to be offside before he crossed for the Argentinean to score.
Espanyol looked to push their lines forward, but were unable to get one shot on target as Barca controlled 75 percent of the ball.
The second half changed in complexion as Espanyol found more bite and Barca were reduced to 10 men as Jordi Alba was sent off for complaining to referee Mateu Lahoz wh produced an inconsistent display with the whistle.
That gave the home side hope, but Messi and Neymar should have killed the game off only for Messi to hit the post and Casilla to again deny the Brazilian.
Espanyol only managed two shots on target, both from Cristian Stuani, who saw both efforts saved by Claudio Bravo.
Real Madrid play away to Celta Vigo on Sunday and anything other than a win would leave Barca with the luxury of being able to afford an error in the run in to the end of the season.