Barcelona blew the chance to secure a third succesive Primera Liga title after being pegged back by crosstown rivals Espanyol in the Catalan derby to draw 2-2 at the Nou Camp.

Espanyol took a shock lead in the 29th minute through skipper Raul Tamudo after latching on to a superb through ball from ex-Barca player Ivan De La Pena only for Barca to equalise through Lionel Messi’s replica of Diego Maradona’s famous “hand of god” in the 43rd minute.

Messi then gave his side the lead in the 57th minute following some neat interchange with Deco but a last-minute lapse of concentration from the Barca backline allowed Raul Tamudo to sneak in to score the game’s equaliser to leave Barca rueing an missed opportunity to gain a strangehold on the Primera Liga with a game remaining.