Barcelona vs Espanyol Live Score and Commentary, La Liga 2017-18

It was a pleasure bringing you all the updates of the game.

This is Shaurya Vineet signing off, until next time.

Feel free to get in touch with me on Twitter @ShauryaVineet, if you have any comments, feedback or queries.

Until then, good night and adios!

That is it, the final whistle goes at Camp Nou and it is a comfortable win for the home side. It was the Lionel Messi show, once again, as the Argentine netted yet another hat-trick to help his side maintain their perfect start to the league season.

Espanyol will feel slightly hard done by the referee as Messi was offside for the first goal. However, you cannot take anything away from Barcelona, who put in a convincing performance. Luis Suarez got his first goal of the season, while Gerard Pique also scored.

The Blaugrana's club record signing - Ousmane Dembele - also got into the act as he assisted the Uruguayan for their 5th.

90+3' PEEP PEEP PEEP! Full-Time: Barcelona 5-0 Espanyol

90' 3 minutes of added time.

Barcelona hit the away side on the counter, Dembele is released down the right and the Frenchman curls one into the path of Suarez, who just pokes it into the back of the net past a helpless Pau to complete the rout.

90' GOOOAAAAALLLL!!! Luis Suarez gets on the scoresheet and it is Ousmane Dembele - Barcelona's record signing - who gave the assist for the goal.

Barcelona are coasting here. The ball is swung in by Rakitic and Pique rises highest to head it home and make it 4.

87' GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! Gerard Pique makes it 4!

86' From about 25 yards out, Messi goes for goal, however, his shot crashes against the wall and deflects behind for a corner.

From the free-kick Barcelona try to get the ball forward but Suarez is fouled and they have a free-kick in an even better position.

84' Yellow Card: Diop is booked for halting the run of Messi. Free-kick to Barcelona.

83' Too unselfish from Suarez there. Messi has the ball and he takes it forward before threading it through to Suarez, the Uruguayan was through on goal and instead of going for goal pulls it back for Messi, who fails to get his shot on target.

Ter Stegen is fouled as he goes out to collect the corner and Barcelona try to hit the away side on the counter.

82' On the other end, Didac draws a good save from Ter Stegen and Espanyol have a corner.

81' Suarez floats one towards the far post with Paulinho lurking, however, the Brazilian fails to get the proper contact despite lunging at the end.

80' Jordi Alba, who has been very impressive tonight, creates yet another chance for his team but Suarez is unable to get on the end of it.

79' Espanyol were knocking on the door before Semedo comes in and takes the ball out of the box and away from danger. Baptistao had a chance to go for goal but his shot is blocked and the home side clear it.

77' Substitution: Andre Gomes is being thrown into the fray as Iniesta is being withdrawn.

76' Barcelona have to defend a corner after Ter Stegen parries one ball behind, which looked to be an awkward one.

75' Substitution: Didac comes on in place of Darder.

Paulinho is guilty of fouling Sergio Garcia and Espanyol have a free-kick.

74' Yellow Card: Aaron is booked for an unnecessary challenge on Dembele. Welcome to La Liga said the Espanyol defender.

73' Substitution: Paulinho comes on to replace Busquets.

Paulinho, another of Barcelona's summer recruits, is preparing to come on.

71' Yellow Card: Darder is booked for a deliberate hand ball. He looked to have chested it, poor decision.

69' Dembele and Messi try to combine down the right, however, it is the former who is crowded out by the Espanyol defenders on both the occasion.

68' Substitution: Ousmane Dembele comes on to make his highly-anticipated debut. Barcelona's record signing replaces Deulofeu.

Make that 5 goals in 2 games. The Argentine is on a level above his teammates.
Messi combines with Suarez on the edge of the box as the duo play a quick one-two. Suarez looks to have messed up the chance but he manages to play it to Alba who lays it off for Messi and the Argentine did the rest.

66' GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! Lionel Messi completes his hat-trick!

Ousmane Dembele is ready to come on.....

64' Deulofeu and Aaron having a real competition here. Messi tries to find the run of the Spaniard but the latter is offside.

63' Iniesta tries to force his way through the midfield, however, his run is checked and Barca win a free-kick.

61' Leo Baptistao almost pulls one back for Espanyol. The forward has the ball inside the box and he lets it fly but Umtiti comes flying in with a brilliant block, diverting the ball behind for a corner.

60' Yellow Card: Victor Sanchez is booked for a lunge from behind on Alba.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's club record signing Ousmane Dembele is warming up and that attracts a round of cheers from the Camp Nou.

57' Substitution: Sergio Garcia comes on to replace Pablo Piatti.

56' Messi is in the mood to create and he is ripping apart the Espanyol defence for fun. The Argentine has the ball outside of the box and spots the run of Iniesta into the box, Messi threads a perfectly weighted ball into the path of the Spaniard, who fails to get that crucial final touch to make it 3.

55' Barcelona have another huge chance. Messi has the chance to go for his hat-trick but he lays it off for Suarez, who fluffs the shot and Espanyol survive another scare.

53' Messi has the chance to complete his hat-trick but it is deflected wide!
Semedo broke forward before giving it to Deulofeu, who swings it in from the right, Messi controls it and goes for goal but it takes a deflection and Barca have a corner.

51' Jordi Alba and Ter Stegen with a terrible mix-up, allowing Piatti to chip the ball over the goalkeeper, however, the Argentine's shot is off target and Barcelona are spared the blushes.

50' Barcelona are happy to recycle possession. Espanyol will have to show more urgency in their play if they are to make a breakthrough.

48' Deulofeu bears down the right and gets the better of his marker before laying it off for Suarez, however, the Uruguayan fluffs his lines and another good chance goes begging.

Will we witness Ousmane Dembele anytime tonight?

46' PEEP! And we are underway in the second half.

The players are coming back out as we get ready for the restart.

It is the Lionel Messi show, once again, as has been the narrative for Barcelona so far this season. The Blaugrana are 2 goals to the good courtesy of their talisman, although Espanyol will feel hard done by the first goal, which was offside.
We will be back with the second half in a few minutes. Do stay tuned.

HALF-TIME: Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol

45' Messi running the show here. The Argentine plays another crooked ball into the path of Suarez, who turns inside but fails to get the ball past the goalkeeper.

43' Pablo Piatti rattles the upright. The Argentine unleashes one on the half volley and with Ter Stegen well beaten it crashes against the post. An over the top ball is played which Pique failed to clear and it fell to Piatti, who turned and hit it on the volley.

41' The Argentine swings it in but it is cleared effortlessly by the away side.