Barcelona ratings v Espanyol: Depay, Gavi and Busquets all 8, Mingueza 5

Memphis Depay penalty gives new coach Xavi his first win as Barca boss

BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen 7. He watched Barça play like Barça again, more like Luis Enrique’s Barça than the Ronald Koeman version. They had 11 shots in the first half, more than any all season. Easily saved a 68th minute Embarba effort. PA

Oscar Mingueza 5. Tricked by Raul de Tomas, Espanyol’s Spanish international striker. Barça’s weakest player: 38-year-old right back Dani Alves will fancy his chances in his old position in the new year. Booked. Getty Images

Gerard Pique 7. Recovered from injury and had to make recoveries from Mingueza’s clumsiness. Took instruction from his new boss and former teammate during play and passed on words to Frenkie de Jong. AFP

Eric Garcia 7. Another who recovered from injury. Major let off at Dimata had a free header close to the end but missed the target. Said he saw similarities between what Xavi wants to do and what Luis Enrique did. AP Photo

Jordi Alba 7. An attacking full-back who pushed right up – even for him. Yet when he passed back to Ter Stegen from deep in the Espanyol half near the end, he was applauded by the 74,418 crowd – twice that of the last home crowd. AFP

Frenkie de Jong 6. Combined well with Alba on the left. Booked. Should be a key player under Xavi. There’s much work to do but it was an encouraging start. Getty Images

Sergio Busquets 8. Did well. Saw more of the ball than anyone. Curled a first half shot towards goal which was parried by Diego Lopez. Incredible ball to set up substitute Abde after 61 minutes. Another in contact with Xavi during the play. Best performance for a while. AP Photo

Nico Iglesias 7. The 19-year-old pushed right up against the Espanyol players as Barça pressed high. Had a first half chance but went down lightly. AP Photo

Gavi 8. One of two 17-year-olds in Barça’s forward line. Superb pass for Depay which led to Barça’s penalty. Beautiful footballer. Went off to an ovation and a big hug from his new manager after 70 minutes. Getty Images

Memphis Depay 8. Won the penalty after 46 minutes, then scored it for the biggest roar in the post-lockdown Camp Nou, sweeping it past Diego Lopez. Focal point of Barça’s attack, not words you’d expect to read six months ago. AFP

Ilias Akhomach 6. The forward, 17, usually plays with Barça’s B team – where he scored twice in a 4-0 win two weeks ago in a game watched by new boss Xavi. Played on the right and stayed close to the line. Lively and twice cut in towards goal, but without end product. Good experience. Getty Images

SUB: Abde Ezzalzouli 8. The 19-year-old Moroccan came on at half time. Lifted a ball over the keeper towards the Espanyol goal after 61 minutes and it was almost deflected in. Rapid and skilful. Shot over after 72 having beaten two defenders. Booked. AFP

SUB: Philippe Coutinho 6. On for Gavi after 70 minutes. A fresh start for him under Xavi, who hopes he can get him back to being the player who Barça bought from Liverpool. Getty Images

SUB: Riqui Puig. On for Busquets after 78 mins. Getty Images

SUB: Ronald Araujo On for Mingueza on 88 mins. AP

SUB: Yusuf Demir On for Iglesias after 88 mins. Getty Images

Barcelona fans finally had a reason to celebrate again as their team played arguably their best game of the season to earn a much-needed 1-0 home win over local rivals Espanyol in LaLiga on their new head coach Xavi's debut on Saturday.

Xavi probably could not have asked for much more in his first game managing a struggling Barca team who are sixth in the standings, eight points behind leaders Sevilla.

It was a dominating performance despite the scoreline and it happened in front of an almost sold-out Camp Nou that exuded hope and excitement for the first time in a long while.

After dominating the first half it took 40 seconds after the break for Barcelona to get a penalty. Gavi played a brilliant through pass to Memphis Depay who was caught by a sliding tackle from Leandro Cabrera. The Dutchman got up to net the spot kick.

As Barca relaxed towards the end Espanyol had chances to equalise through Raul de Tomas, who twice hit the post. But the hosts held on for a first win in their last five league games.