Barcelona will be looking to start the New Year with a comprehensive win this evening when they travel to face fierce rivals RCD Espanyol at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.
Following 4-0 victory over Real Betis on Wednesday night, Barca finished 2015 on top of La Liga and more importantly with excellent form and a strong performance. The lethal front three of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were really on fire yet again, and it’s expected the Latin American trio will carry that form into 2016.
Indeed, the scariest assumption is that Barcelona could yet improve more, especially with the inclusion and integration of Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, both of whom are to be available from Monday onwards because of the quirks of the LFP and their strange working hours. Everyone might have thought that Arda and Vidal would be available for today’s match, but the fact is that, LFP registration window does not open until Monday due to the public holiday and weekend. Although there is a good chance, Barcelona finding a loophole at the last moment.
Whatever may be the case, Barcelona boss Luis Enrique will be confident enough ahead of the Catalan derby; his boys are in stunning form for the last two weeks, bouncing back from 3 consecutive draws that suggested some kind of a mini-meltdown amongst some Barca fans. Guangzhou Evergrande, River Plate and Real Betis all have been dispatched comprehensively – Barcelona’s record in those three fixtures represents an impressive reading: 10 goals scored, not a single goal conceded.
On the other hand, Espanyol seems to be a little less impressive. They have hired a new manager, Constantin Galca recently who led Romanian giants, Steaua Bucharest to a league and cup double in his only season since taking charge of the team. Espanyol managed to win their first two games under their new manager, but faltered in midweek against Sevilla, suffering to a 2-0 defeat.
But on the positive aspect, Espanyol have a decent home record and will take solace looking into the stats which say Barcelona have been very slow starters in the away matches so far this term. However they didn’t look too slow away from home in one of their most recent away fixtures, that classic 0-4 win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The stakes are quite similar. Luis Enrique will likely field a similar starting line-up as well; will a similar fate await Espanyol tonight? Let’s see.
Team News
Barcelona
Assuming that the LFP rules will continue to apply and that Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal both are therefore will not feature in this Catalan derby, we can look forward to mentioning the pair in midweek for Barcelona’s Copa del Rey first leg match against the same opposition. There are no new injury or suspension concerns also. Lionel Messi managed to avoid any real serious damage when the Argentine was hip-checked in the shoulder by Antonio Adan, so there really is nothing new to say which means Barcelona boss has a hand full of options to select whoever he wants today.
Both Pique and Alba were rested during the victory over Betis in its entirety, and they will be fresh and ready to go. Busquets was benched once the three points were secured last Wednesday, which means he will start again. Andres Iniesta will return to captain the side. There will be no change in the front three, with Messi-Suarez-Neymar leading the attack.
Espanyol
The good news for Espanyol boss Constantin Galca is that he will be happy to welcome back midfielder Papakouli Diop from suspension, after the Senegal international sat out the defeat to Sevilla, while the bad news is that his midfield options, Victor Sánchez and Jose Canas are both still sidelined with injuries.
However, ahead of his first Catalan derby, Galca has been relatively upbeat about his team’s chances at home despite Barcelona’s exceptional recent form. He may go for all three of his star players – Marco Asensio, Felipe Caicedo and Gerard Moreno together.
Recent Form
Barcelona: DDDWWW
Espanyol: DDLWWL
Expected line-ups
Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Roberto, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Espanyol: P. Lopez; J. Lopez, Roco, Alvaro, Duarte; Diop, Jordan; Asensio, Salva Sevilla, Perez; Caicedo
Key Battles
Betting Odds
Betting Odds:
Espanyol: 12/1
Draw: 6/1
Barcelona: 2/11
Our Prediction
Derby fixtures are always entertaining, thrilling and we could go for a 2-0 result like last time out when Barcelona beat Espanyol in La Liga on 25th April, 2015.