Barça have narrowly beaten city rivals Espanyol in the first leg of the Supercopa de España. Ludovic Giuly scored the only goal just before half time.

Early Espanyol pressure
It was the cup winners that started brightly in front of their own fans, with Fredson forcing Victor Valdes into an early save with a fierce strike.

Valdes was then called on again to block away a Rufete strike before Ronaldinho forced a save from Espanyol keeper Gorka Iraizoz at the other end.

Xavi then brought another stop from Iraizoz after Samuel Eto'o found him in the Espanyol box with a defence-splitting pass

Barça take the lead
Ludovic Giuly then handed Barca the lead just before the break, Ronaldinho picked the French winger out on the edge of Espanyol box before Giuly beat Iraizoz with a right-foot finish.

The second half
The second half saw Espanyol go very close to levelling, but Eduardo Costa's strike flew just wide soon after the restart.

That was closest the home side came to scoring, as Barça controlled the second period - with Deco, Thiago Motta and Oleguer all missing the target.

Iraizoz was called on to make stops from substitute Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, while Luis Garcia brought a save out of Valdes at the other end.

Espanyol claim victory
After full time, Espanyol said it wants the Supercopa to be awarded to them after Barça fielded Carles Puyol and Xavi after they withdrew from a Spain call-up due to injury.

"In the case of ineligible players being fielded the innocent club, in this case Espanyol, has to be declared as the winner of the tie," Espanyol's director general, Pedro Tomas said.

He then explained that his club were launching the complaint because under FIFA regulations any player that pulls out of an international match through injury cannot play for their club for the next five days.

Puyol and Xavi underwent tests in Madrid with the national team doctor and both were told that they were not fit enough to play and were sent back to Barcelona.

Spain played Iceland in Rekjavik on Tuesday without the duo, but 48 hours later the two players started for Frank Rijkaard's team against Espanyol.

The complaint is due to be heard at 4pm (CET) on Sunday, just six hours before the second leg is due to be played, but Tomas insists that the game will still go ahead.