Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez 's opening goal gave Barcelona a lead they would not relinquish Sunday, and the club is three points shy of 100 to tie Real Madrid's record from last season. Reuters

One more victory like Sunday’s 2-0 performance, and Barcelona can equal the record of 100-points in a La Liga season set by Real Madrid last year.

Alexis Sanchez worked the give and go early with David Villa, and Pedro took advantage of Espanyol being down to 10-men for another goal in the 86th minute, and the Catalans, currently at 97 points, are one win away from tying the mark.

Espanyol’s Wakaso Mubarak was sent off with a red card in the 80th, and Pedro capitalized with one less man in the back line, and turned a through ball by Xavi into his seventh goal of the season.

Sanchez created his shot mostly himself, working the ball up a seam through the Espanyol area, then asking for a touch pass from Villa who answered, and then a right footed shot to the top right of the net.

The Catalans played an excellent possession game as well, winning that battle 70-30 and forcing five corner kicks to Espanyol’s four.

Barcelona have one more match left against Malaga to tie Madrid’s mark, and it will be next week at the Nou Camp.

Should they not achieve that goal, they can certainly gun for the record again next season with the addition of Brazilian sensation Neymar’s five-year commitment to the Catalans.

Espanyol vs Barcelona 0:2 GOALS HIGHLIGHTS by footballdaily1