* Iniesta, Pique score in 2-0 win over Espanyol
* Villarreal held to 0-0 draw in Mallorca
MADRID, May 8 (Reuters) - Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique scored to give Barcelona a 2-0 derby win over Espanyol at the Nou Camp on Sunday which left them a point away from their third consecutive La Liga title.
Second-placed Real Madrid's 6-2 thrashing of Sevilla on Saturday had denied Barca the chance to win the championship in front of their own fans, but they showed few signs of nerves as they calmly dispatched their neighbours.
The Champions League finalists climbed to 91 points and restored their eight-point lead with three games left, needing only need a draw at Levante on Wednesday to wrap up the title unless Real slip up at home to Getafe on Tuesday.
Spain midfielder Iniesta slalomed his way into the area to beat Carlos Kameni at his near post after 29 minutes and his international team mate Pique nodded in at the near post from a corner just after the re-start.
One of the biggest cheers of the day for home fans was for Eric Abidal when the French fullback came on for the last 20 minutes as he continued his recovery from surgery on a liver tumour.
Earlier, Villarreal were held to a dull 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca which damaged their chances of securing automatic qualification for next season's Champions League.
Juan Carlos Garrido's team, who were knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage by Porto on Thursday, stayed fourth in the standings with 61 points and three games left after a rare midday kickoff.
Villarreal slipped five points behind local rivals Valencia in third, who were 3-0 winners over Real Sociedad on Saturday, but they pulled seven points ahead of fifth place.
* Villarreal held to 0-0 draw in Mallorca
MADRID, May 8 (Reuters) - Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique scored to give Barcelona a 2-0 derby win over Espanyol at the Nou Camp on Sunday which left them a point away from their third consecutive La Liga title.
Second-placed Real Madrid's 6-2 thrashing of Sevilla on Saturday had denied Barca the chance to win the championship in front of their own fans, but they showed few signs of nerves as they calmly dispatched their neighbours.
The Champions League finalists climbed to 91 points and restored their eight-point lead with three games left, needing only need a draw at Levante on Wednesday to wrap up the title unless Real slip up at home to Getafe on Tuesday.
Spain midfielder Iniesta slalomed his way into the area to beat Carlos Kameni at his near post after 29 minutes and his international team mate Pique nodded in at the near post from a corner just after the re-start.
One of the biggest cheers of the day for home fans was for Eric Abidal when the French fullback came on for the last 20 minutes as he continued his recovery from surgery on a liver tumour.
Earlier, Villarreal were held to a dull 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca which damaged their chances of securing automatic qualification for next season's Champions League.
Juan Carlos Garrido's team, who were knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage by Porto on Thursday, stayed fourth in the standings with 61 points and three games left after a rare midday kickoff.
Villarreal slipped five points behind local rivals Valencia in third, who were 3-0 winners over Real Sociedad on Saturday, but they pulled seven points ahead of fifth place.
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