Luis Suarez's 55th-minute goal gave FC Barcelona a narrow win at home to local rivals Espanyol to pull his club to within a point of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga while at the same time condemning their neighbours to relegation to the Spanish second division.

Although Barca controlled most of the ball in the first half and Antoine Griezmann went close after being set up by Suarez, they were too slow with their passing to open up an Espanyol side that created the best two chances on the break during Wednesday's encounter, reports Xinhua news agency.