Barcelona turned on the style again on Saturday to thrash Espanyol 5-1 in a one-sided Catalan derby, with two goals apiece from winger Pedro and striker David Villa, plus one from playmaker Xavi.
Pablo Osvaldo pulled a goal back for Espanyol but the hosts — who had won all their previous home matches — were incapable of turning the tables on their illustrious neighbours.
It was Barca’s 10th consecutive league win and confirms their imperious form. They now have 43 points from 16 games and have scored 50 goals, leaving them on course to break all the records.
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Lionel Messi should have given Barca an early lead but the chance fell to his weaker right foot and he blasted over. But Pedro made no mistake in the 19th minute when played through by Messi, making it 1-0 with a cool finish.
Xavi made it 2-0 on the half hour with a low cross-shot, after a series of mistakes from the over-worked Espanyol defence. The one-way traffic continued into the second-half, and Pedro added a third after Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni had dropped a long shot from Messi.
Osvaldo then pulled a goal back for Espanyol after speeding away from ageing Barca captain Carles Puyol. The hosts poured forward more in hope than expectation but left gaps at the back, which Villa cruelly exploited with two late goals.
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It was Barca’s biggest away win against their neighbours in almost 50 years. So impressive was their performance that they were actually applauded off by the Espanyol fans.