Enrique slams NFL tactics

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique compared Espanyol's roughhouse tactics to the NFL after the visitors had two men sent-off in the second bad-tempered Catalan derby in four days as Barca came from behind to win 4-1 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Hernan Perez and Papakouli Diop were shown red cards in a four-minute spell in the second-half with Barca already leading 3-1 thanks to a Lionel Messi double.

Messi then teed up Neymar for a stunning fourth to all but seal Barca's place in the quarterfinals ahead of the second leg on January 13.

Espanyol's intense approach had worked in frustrating Barca with a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

Yet, they lost their discipline completely in the final quarter with goalkeeper Pau Lopez escaping punishment for a blatant stamp on Messi.

And there were reports that the players from the two sides even came to blows in the tunnel after the game.

"The referees are the ones to set the limits. They are responsible for ensuring this is football and not American football," said Enrique.

"Anything that takes us away from football worries me. All we are looking for is to play."