Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona live score and goal updates from La Liga as leaders take on Catalan rivals

BARCELONA TRAIN AHEAD OF CLASH WITH ESPANYOL

Barcelona have the chance to break a club record when they take on city rivals Espanyol for the third time in just over a fortnight.

If the runaway LaLiga leaders avoid defeat at the RCDE Stadium it would stretch their unbeaten start to the league season to 22 games.

That would be the best run in the club's history, and move them to within 10 games of equalling the national record, which was set by Real Sociedad in 1979-80.

With a gap of 14 places and 33 points between the clubs in LaLiga, Barca will fancy their chances of not only setting that new club milestone but also picking up a 19th league win of the campaign.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Digne, Busquets, Iniesta, Paulinho, Alcacer, Coutinho, Suarez

Espanyol XI: D. Lopez, Navarro, Aaron, Victor, Naldo, Gerard, Jurado, Baptistao, D. Lopez, Granero, Dardar

Follow all the action below...

KEY EVENTS

Espanyol XI revealed14:09
Barcelona XI revealed14:07

15:4630 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Over half hour gone and we await the first goal. Chances have been few and far between so far, with Espanyol certainly the happier of the two sides.

15:4429 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

First booking of the game is issued to Busquets, who completely mistimes his tackle and brings Baptistao to ground. No arguments from the experienced midfielder there, who is angry with himself for his poor challenge.

15:44

15:4327 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Only a couple of efforts from distance for either side so far then, in a game that has been mostly played around central midfield.

15:4225 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

SAVE! First sight of goal for Espanyol, as Baptistao nicks the ball off Iniesta and strikes from distance. It stings the gloves of ter Stegen but the German mops up the danger.

15:3923 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Umtiti complaining to the referee after having his shirt pulled inside the box by David Lopez, which the Espanyol man is lucky that the referee missed. The game has started to liven up!

15:3721 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

OFF THE BAR! Coutinho inches away from his first Barcelona goal! The Brazilian starlet picks up the ball on the edge of the box, works the ball onto his right foot and smashes an effort off the frame of the goal.

15:3620 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Espanyol are very patient on the ball, playing with two banks of four and hoping to cut out Barcelona's moves early on. That's worked so far but the front two of Baptistao and Moreno are yet to receive the ball in threatening areas.

15:3418 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

With their backs against the wall, it's so far so good for Espanyol. They've dealt with everything that Barcelona have thrown their way so far, although there haven't been clear-cut chances for either side.

15:3216 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Iniesta involved a lot in the early periods of play and he's becoming a vital asset in the Barcelona machine. He's unlikely to last the full 90 minutes but certainly has the time to make an impact.

15:3014 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Barcelona becoming more and more dominant in possession as this half progresses, with Espanyol not really managing to string together the passes required to put Valverde's defence under pressure.

15:2812 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Iniesta with a spectacular lofted ball through to Alcacer, who was driving into a central position from wide on the right. He can't quite get it under control though and toes the ball behind for a goal kick.

15:2610 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

CHANCE! First sight of the goal for Barcelona, as Alcacer curls a low cross into the feet of Suarez inside the area and the Uruguayan pokes a shot towards goal. It's Diego Lopez's first save of the game but it isn't a testing one.

15:259 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Barcelona starting to find their tempo here but they're yet to break down Espanyol. The home supporters are playing their part in the game with plenty of noise and they'll be aware it could be a long afternoon.

15:237 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Pique is getting a lot of attention from the home crowd, after saying last week that Espanyol wasn't part of the city of Barcelona. In a period of immense pride for Catalonia that certainly didn't go down well at all.

15:205 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

A relatively unknown side story to this match is Coutinho, who spent time on-loan at Espanyol in 2012 and impressed by scoring five goals in 16 La Liga appearances. That helped see his stock rise, with a move to Liverpool coming the following year.

15:193 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

Decent start from both sides, who are working the ball into dangerous areas in the final third, and it's been impressive from Espanyol, who have selected an attacking line-up in the quest to return to winning ways.

15:171 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE

A big game for Ernesto Valverde this afternoon, as avoiding defeat today would see him set a club-record for an unbeaten start to the season. In 21 matches so far, Barcelona are yet to lose in La Liga and another positive result here would see them better the current record set by a side managed by Pep Guardiola.