Dubious Depay penalty grants Xavi first win
Xavi enjoyed a winning start as Barcelona head coach as it claimed a 1-0 derby win over Espanyol at Camp Nou, but the win was far from comfortable.
Appointed as Ronald Koeman's successor and tasked with restoring both style and results to Barca, the former midfielder would not have wanted to countenance the end of a 22-match unbeaten run against a city rival.
The Blaugrana were profligate with their chances, though, and it took a very controversial Memphis Depay penalty to secure victory as Espanyol missed out on the chance to move three points clear of Barca in the table.
Barca had 77 per cent of the possession in the first 15 minutes, Depay and Ilias Akhomach leading a dangerous-looking attack in front of a buoyant crowd of more than 74,000.
However, Espanyol proved a difficult defence to breach and the visitors came closest to snatching the lead, Raul de Tomas' shot deflecting just over Marc-Andre ter Stegen's crossbar.
Three minutes after half-time, Leandro Cabrera was penalised for a challenge on Depay – despite appearing to make contact with the ball – and the Netherlands international swept home the spot-kick.
Barca could not build on its lead, though, and De Tomas came within inches of an equaliser when his free-kick clipped the outside of the left-hand post.
Landry Dimata should have snatched a point, but he could only nod wide of Ter Stegen's goal from six yards out, and De Tomas was again denied by the woodwork from another unmarked header before Wu Lei failed to finish another late scramble in the Barca box as Xavi's side held on for all three points, no doubt acutely aware of the work he has ahead of him.
