Barcelona starts 2026 with a match against Espanyol in the Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium.
Both teams are doing well, but Barcelona has had more success in this matchup. The league leaders, managed by Hansi Flick, aim to maintain their advantage, having not lost to Espanyol in 13 previous encounters.
Espanyol vs Barcelona – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 3rd January.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST.
- Venue: RCDE Stadium, Cornella De Llobregat.
Espanyol team news
Espanyol will miss Charles Pickel, who is with the DR Congo national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, and Roman Terrats due to a hamstring injury.
Javi Puado, out since October 5 with a knee issue, might return but may not start given his limited training.
The rest of the team is fit, and coach Manolo González is expected to use a 4-3-3 formation with Roberto Fernández as the key attacker.
Barcelona team news
Barcelona receives a boost as head coach Hansi Flick announces that Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal are fit to play.
Olmo has recovered from a dislocated shoulder, while Yamal has rejoined the team after missing a recent training session.
Midfielder Pedri is likely to play after a calf issue kept him out of the last match, but Andreas Christensen is sidelined with an ACL injury.
Gavi is recovering from knee surgery, while Ronald Araujo has returned to training after prioritizing his mental health and could participate in the derby.
Form
Espanyol
Espanyol is currently fifth in the table, with a record of 10 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses, totaling 33 points. They have won five straight La Liga matches and recently secured a 2-1 victory over Athletic Club. Their strong defense has only allowed 17 goals in 17 matches.
Barcelona
Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, is having a great season with eight consecutive La Liga wins. They lead the league with 46 points from 18 matches, featuring 15 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.
The team has scored 51 goals this season, the highest in La Liga, although they have conceded 20 goals, which is the most among the top seven teams.
Predicted lineups
Espanyol: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Gonzalez, Edu, Lozano; Dolan, Fernandez, Milla.
Barcelona: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, E Garcia, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; F Torres.
How to watch Espanyol vs Barcelona?
Viewers in the UK can catch the match on Disney+.
Read Also – MLS side offer Harvey Elliott Aston Villa escape route
See More – Ex-England pair back Adam Wharton for big World Cup role
Add Footem.in As your Preferred Source on Google
Follow the latest on Footem WhatsApp Channel
