Football Briefs: Barca lose to Espanyol in Cup after Messi penalty miss

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

Lionel Messi had a penalty saved as triple King's Cup holders Barcelona suffered a surprise 1-0 loss at city rivals Espanyol in a quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, ending an unbeaten run of 29 games in all competitions.

Espanyol's academy graduate Oscar Melendo crashed in the only goal of the game in the 88th minute after Messi had his spot-kick turned away by former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez earlier in the second half.

Barca had not lost to Espanyol since 2009 and this was their first defeat by their local rivals in the Cup since 1970. The last game they had lost in any competition was in the Spanish Super Cup to Real Madrid on August 16.

The second leg of the tie at the Nou Camp is on January 25.

Elsewhere, Sevilla battled back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Atletico Madrid as Diego Simeone's decision to rest number one goalkeeper Jan Oblak in favour of Miguel Angel Moya backfired.

Valencia also staged a late comeback to beat last year's runners-up Deportivo Alaves 2-1 at home. The visiting side went ahead through Ruben Sobrino in the 66th minute but Portugal international Goncalo Guedes levelled for Valencia in the 73rd.

Real Madrid visit Leganes in the other quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

Neymar hits four, Cavani matches record as PSG crush Dijon

Neymar netted four goals and Edinson Cavani became Paris St Germain's joint top scorer ever as the runaway Ligue 1 leaders demolished visitors Dijon 8-0 on Wednesday.

Brazilian forward Neymar, just back from injury, took his season's tally to 15 goals and the rout was completed by Angel Di Maria's double and goals by Cavani and substitute Kylian Mbappe.

Cavani bagged his 156th goal in all competitions for PSG, matching the club record of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played for the club from 2012-16.

PSG have 56 points from 21 games and lead second-placed Olympique Lyonnais, who won 2-0 at En Avant Guingamp earlier on Wednesday, by 11 points.

Earlier, Nabil Fekir and Houssem Aouar helped Lyon move above Olympique de Marseille and Monaco into second place.

They lead Marseille, who beat RC Strasbourg 2-0 on Tuesday, by one point and Monaco, who were held to a 2-2 draw with Nice, by two.