Never mind 12 minutes - Lionel Messi only needs three to complete his treble!

Pedro, perhaps with his ears ringing from his selfishness a few moments ago, tees up Messi after a slick one-two to slide in Barca's fifth. Magic.

Image source, Getty Images

Although Lionel Messi fails to break into a beaming smile as Barca celebrate that goal. He was waiting for a pull back from Pedro to tap in and complete his 21st La Liga hat-trick - two adrift of arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who broke that record last night.

Twelve minutes to get another match-ball...

Game. Set. Match. As if it was in any doubt.

Luis Suarez's replacement Pedro sticks his name on the scoresheet as Barcelona boost their goal difference in pursuit of rampant leaders Real Madrid.

The Spain star deftly controls Jordi Alba's raking pass, steadies himself and drills low into the bottom corner.

Of course, Luis Suarez does earn himself an assist for the pass that led to Lionel Messi's second goal - but that was all about the Argentine's brilliance.

OptaJose:, external Only Cristiano Ronaldo (7) has made more assists than Luis Suárez (5) since the Uruguayan player's La Liga debut.

Lionel Messi hoists the resulting set-piece over the Espanyol wall, but cannot hit his intended target. That effort is sandwiched in-between a switch for either side - Luis Suarez, who has not been as effective as he is remembered as being by Premier League fans, is replaced by Pedro.

And Espanyol's Felipe Caicedo goes off. The ex-Manchester City man was as effective as he is remembered as being by Premier League fans....

How do you stop Lionel Messi? Brutally clatter into him from behind is the method of choice from Espanyol defender Alvaro Gonzalez. Yellow card for him. And a Barca free-kick in an ominous position.

And that is Ivan Rakitic's last contribution. On comes Andres Iniesta to a hero's reception - it is his first La Liga appearance since September following a calf injury.

Pretty sure a World Cup-winner trotting on to the pitch is the last thing that the Espanyol players want to see now...

Barcelona are winning the ball higher up the pitch now - something which they failed to do in the first half. Ivan Rakitic spanks a vicious volley towards goal, but a blue and white Espanyol shirt bravely blocks. Bet that is what I call a 'cold Sunday morning stinger'.

What a difference a Lionel Messi goal or two makes. Barcelona are purring now. Xavi lofts forward a ball towards the rampaging run of Dani Alves, but the Brazilian does not have the legs to reach it and Espanyol clear.

Image source, AFP

Change for Espanyol as they attempt to claw a way back into this match. Or more likely attempt to limit the damage.

It's the latter. Definitely the latter. Experienced Mexico defender Hector Moreno enters the fray, in place of the more attack-minded midfielder Jose Canas.

About 15 minutes of football ago, Espanyol were in dreamland. Now they are waking up in the middle of the night, sweating and screaming about a Lionel Messi-inspired nightmare.

Barca have looked a totally different proposition since the break. Whether they have been boosted by Messi's equaliser on the stroke of half-time, or a tongue-lashing from boss Luis Enrique I'm not so sure. Maybe a little bit of both.

Game over, surely. Less than 150 seconds after Messi's second goal, team-mate Gerard Pique puts clear daylight between the neighbouring clubs. The Barca centre-back climbs above a static away defence to powerfully head in Ivan Rakitic's cross from a short corner.

Image source, Getty Images

Guess who? Yes. Lionel Messi puts Barcelona ahead for the first time this evening, drilling in a right-foot shot from 20 yards.

The Barca hero takes a heavy touch (seriously) as he controls Luis Suarez's pass, before recovering with a magical second, dinking it through a defender's legs, before smashing in a low strike with his weaker foot.

Image source, Reuters

The white handkerchiefs are out at the Nou Camp. They are being waved by the home fans - a sign of their disgust - at the referee, who decides Espanyol defender Eric Bailly's robust shoulder charge on Neymar is legal.

And within seconds of the kick-off, Barcelona win a free kick in a dangerous position. Xavi whips in an in-swinger from a right-central position but the tall frame of Gerard Pique is three inches too short to connect with a stretching leg.

Image source, EPA

No changes at the break for either side. Espanyol, backed by less than 100 fans inside the Nou Camp, restart the action.

OptaJose:, external 200 - Lionel Messi has scored his 200th La Liga goal since Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival to Real Madrid (2009/10). Rivalry.

The other concern for Luis Enrique is that a below-par performance does not bode well ahead of their big Champions League clash against Paris St-Germain in midweek.

The French champions need at least a draw at the Nou Camp to finish as group winners - and therefore leaving already-qualified Barca with the prospect of a tough last-16 tie.

If this scoreline stays the same then Barcelona will move back into second place - above defending champions Atletico Madrid - courtesy of their better goal difference.

But they will slip four points behind leaders Real Madrid after 14 matches.