Messi missed penalty, Barca lost first match of the season

Espanyol 1-0 Barcelona

Goal: Oscar Melendo 88'

To rest for La Liga, Barca only used six regular starters in the starting lineup. Messi started alongside Denis Suarez and Aleix Vidal, while Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic were all on the bench.

Without some key players, Barca's effectiveness in attack has decreased significantly. The number of truly dangerous opportunities created by the away team is not as high as in previous matches.

The highlights of the first half were two shots from outside the box by Messi and Paulinho, while Denis Suarez got close to the 6m50 area and then fired a shot wide of the post.

The second half was not much different from the first 45 minutes. Barca dominated the game but could not overcome Espanyol's crowded defense. Even when coach Ernesto Valverde brought on Rakitic and Luis Suarez, the visitors could not create a clear advantage.

The most notable moment in the second half was Messi's missed penalty in the 63rd minute. Goalkeeper Diego Lopez became the hero for Espanyol when he flew in the right direction to block the low shot from the Barca star.

Attacking more but not scoring, Barca had to pay the price after a good coordination from Espanyol in the 88th minute. From a cross from the right wing, Oscar Melendo crossed the corner to beat goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to score the only goal.

Losing 0-1 in the first leg, Barca will have to wait until the second leg in the middle of next week to find another chance to continue. If they want to decide their own fate, the Nou Camp team needs to win again with a difference of two goals.

The defeat to Espanyol was also Barca's first defeat in three competitions in the 2017-2018 season. Before that, coach Valverde's team had only won and drawn in 29 consecutive matches in La Liga, the Champions League and the King's Cup.

Also in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, Atletico Madrid lost 1-2 at home against Sevilla, while Valencia beat Alaves 2-1. On the evening of January 18, Real Madrid will play the remaining first leg of the quarter-finals away at Leganes.