Espanyol are looking fairly comfortable as we approach the break.

Memphis Depay curls in a cross from the left but it's straight into Diego Lopez's arms.

Gavi cuts inside from the left and sends a powerful shot over Diego Lopez's crossbar.

Five minutes to go in the first half. Still time for a goal?

Gavi's cross is deflected behind by Aleix Vidal and Barcelona have their second corner of the match.

Jordi Alba's delivery floats out of play for an Espanyol goal-kick. Wasteful.

How will Xavi feel about his first 35 minutes as Barcelona head coach?

His team have gone close on several occasions but Espanyol are making life very difficult for their city rivals.

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Aleix Vidal's deep cross is taken down brilliantly by Raul de Tomas. The ball eventually falls to Adria Pedrosa, who takes a tumble in the area but is told to get to his feet by the referee.

Nico drives to the bye-line before sending in a deep cross towards the far post.

Jordi Alba tries an acrobatic volley but fails to direct it on target.

Another Barcelona attack and yet another save from Espanyol goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Gavi lets the ball run for Sergio Busquets, who forces Lopez into a diving save to his right.

Relentless pressure from Barcelona. Espanyol fail to clear the danger and Sergio Busquets releases Memphis Depay, who takes a touch before shooting into the chest of Diego Lopez.

Frenkie de Jong wanted his compatriot to square the ball to him on the edge of the six-yard box.

Gavi escapes the attentions of marker Adria Pedrosa but doesn't get enough power behind his header - it's another easy save for Diego Lopez.

Now it's Barcelona's turn to launch a counter-attack. Frenkie de Jong releases Memphis Depay, who gets the better of his defender and belatedly gets a shot off.

Straight at Diego Lopez.

Memphis Depay swings in a corner which his flicked on by Gerard Pique, but Espanyol break and surge forward.

Raul de Tomas, who has looked lively for the visitors, shoots straight into Marc Andre ter Stegen's arms from a tight angle.

Sergio Busquets picks out Jordi Alba making one of his trademark runs towards the bye-line, but the full-back is offside.

Lovely build-up play from the hosts, but no end product so far.

Ilias Akhomach is a fine player indeed. The 17-year-old twists and turns on the right before floating in a teasing cross which is cleared by Espanyol.

It's all Barcelona.

Oh my lord. Chaos inside the Espanyol box as goalkeeper Diego Lopez plays the ball straight to Gavi, who goes down under pressure from David Lopez.

The referee isn't interested.

The linesman's flag is up, but the youngster should be hitting the target from there anyway.

Ilias Akhomach is first to Jordi Alba's low cross into the box but gets his shot all wrong, blazing over the bar.

Another Espanyol counter-attack ends with Raul de Tomas volleying a deep cross high into the stand behind Marc Andre ter Stegen's goal.

Ambitious to say the least.

Pedri, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are all on the Barcelona bench tonight.

Plenty of firepower to choose from if the hosts need a goal.

Memphis Depay finds space down the left before picking out Nico on the edge of the area.

The 19-year-old cuts onto his right foot but sends his shot high over the crossbar.

Chants of "Xavi, Xavi, Xavi!" ring around the Camp Nou.

Adri Embarba breaks forward for Espanyol and gets a shot off from the edge of the box, but it trickles harmlessly wide of Marc Andre ter Stegen's right-hand post.

Espanyol are working very hard off the ball, with David Lopez dropping in alongside centre-backs Victor Gomez and Leandro Cabrera.

Barcelona dominating possession but not doing a great deal with it so far.