So Barcelona end the day as they started it - on top of La Liga courtesy of a better head-to-head record against Real Madrid. 

This is the title race which keeps on giving. Many thanks for your company. Until next time...

Real Madrid remain favourites to win their first La Liga title since 2012 as they have a game in hand over Barca. Real Madrid's next league game is away to Tony Adams' relegated Granada on 6 May.

Barcelona's next game is against fifth-placed Villarreal at the Nou Camp next Saturday (17:30 BST). Luis Enrique's team are determined the title race goes down to the wire.

Barcelona are back on top of La Liga courtesy of gifts from neighbours Espanyol.

Two additional minutes.

Espanyol fans have seen enough. Barca have the bragging rights once again from the Catalan derby. 

Another calamitous mistake in the Espanyol defence seals the points for Barca. This time its Aaron Martín who gets it horribly wrong - his mis-kick gifting Luis Suarez a simple tap-in. The final whistle cannot come soon enough for Espanyol.

This is a hard-working, gutsy performance which is about to take Barcelona back to the top of La Liga. Nothing flashy. Espanyol have given their neighbours a tough workout but have lacked the cutting edge Barca have all over their team.

Remember I said Lionel Messi had been quiet by his usual standards? He embarks on a powerful run from inside the centre circle before rolling the ball to an unmarked Ivan Rakitic inside the Espanyol penalty area who in turn rolls it past the keeper into the net. That's another soft goal as far as the hosts are concerned.

Image source, .

A huge 15 minutes coming up in terms of the title race. Will Barca hold on? 

He's been a spectator for most of the night but Marc-Andre ter Stegen gets down well to hold Jurado's fiercely struck shot from an angle. That could easily have spilled out but the German hugs the ball as though his life depends on it.

A strange night for Lionel Messi. He's shown flashes of quality but he's been quiet in terms of attacking threat by his usual high standards. Hey, everyone is allowed an off-day. Even little magicians. 

Espanyol haven't managed a shot on target. This is far from over but they need to carve out more chances if they are to claw their way back into this derby. Will midfielder Hernan Perez come up with the goods? He's just come on for Pablo Piatti.

So with around half an hour remaining Barca are heading back to the top of La Liga as it stands. They have a better head-to-head record than Real Madrid although the capital club crucially have a game in hand on their rivals. This is developing into another terrific race for the title.

Barca are playing much better. It requires a terrific finger-tip stop from Diego Lopez to prevent Neymar's curling shot from finding the top corner. It's a great attempt, an even better save.

It's turning into a horrible night for Jurado. He wasted a great chance to give Espanyol an early lead before his mistake led to Suarez's breakthrough goal.

Quique Sanchez Flores looks composed on the touchline but you can be sure the Espanyol boss is fuming on the inside. His side were doing a terrific job at frustrating their neighbours before gifting them the lead.

They have struggled to carve out chances but Barca are ahead as Jose Manuel Jurado's ridiculous back pass is seized on by Luis Suarez who slots home. Great anticipation by Suarez but a total disaster as far as Espanyol are concerned.