Espanyol midfielder Joan Verdu says Barcelona will win the Liga.

Espanyol face their neighbours on Sunday.

Verdu said: "Barca will win the league and we will also play in Europe. It is an important game for us to try to join the party.

"If we didn't think we could compete we would stay here and hand Barca the three points.

"(Lionel) Messi makes the difference for them because he is better than the rest. But if we all help, we can stop him."

 Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Barcelona.