Barca keep the pressure on

Barcelona managed to keep up with Real Madrid in what was meant to be a classic "trap game" against crosstown rivals Espanyol. There was plenty of tension and intensity on the pitch and in the stands, and for just over a half, you wondered whether Quique Sanchez Flores might just trip up his old teammate (and foe) Luis Enrique.
But then a double dose of errors from Jose Jurado (ironically, a Real Madrid product) sent Barca on their way. First he fluffed an obvious chance and then gifted a chance to Luis Suarez, who buried it in clinical fashion. The goal deflated Espanyol, and Ivan Rakitic and Suarez (again) rounded out the 3-0 scoreline.

The run-in can't be taken for granted -- Villarreal (still praying for fourth) at home, Las Palmas (who have lost just three at home all year) on the road and Eibar (the feel-good story of the year) at the Camp Nou -- but all Barca can do is keep the pressure on.