Espanyol v Barcelona: Line-ups, stats and preview
Espanyol v Barcelona Match Preview
Barcelona encounters with their local rivals Espanyol have historically been viewed as predictable, but Hansi Flick understands the need to avoid underestimating Saturday’s derby.
Flick’s squad returns from the winter hiatus leading LaLiga and holding a four-point advantage over their bitter opponents Real Madrid.
However, their opening match of 2026 poses a challenging task, as the visit to Espanyol is expected to be more complex than in previous years.
Manolo Gonzalez’s team sits fifth in the rankings after a remarkable streak of five consecutive league victories, having conceded only two goals in that span. They are trailing fourth-placed Villarreal by just two points.
It has been nearly 19 years since Barcelona last suffered a league defeat to Espanyol when playing away, but Flick is eager to ensure his players maintain their focus against their currently strong local rivals.
“I’d like to congratulate Manolo,” he remarked. “He’s been doing an incredible job. Their team presses effectively and excels in transitions.
“They’ve clinched five victories in a row. We need to perform at our top level, remain composed, and showcase our best football. We possess enough quality to secure the win.”
Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s return to his previous club adds an intriguing element to the matchup, though Manolo remains unfazed.
“I don’t care about that; it doesn’t concern me,” he stated. “What matters is achieving a win. The Joan García situation is not my focus.
“There’s a significant sporting rivalry, and amusingly, I have numerous friends who support Barca, and we enjoy joking with one another.
“Tomorrow promises to be a fantastic derby. We aim to triumph over Barca, and they have the same desire.”
Team news for Espanyol v Barcelona
Ramon Terrats (thigh) will be absent for Espanyol, while Charles Pickel continues his participation at the AFCON with DR Congo.
Ronaldo Araujo is back in the Barcelona roster after taking time off to focus on his mental well-being.
Andreas Christensen (knee) and Gavi (knee) remain unavailable. However, Dani Olmo (shoulder) is expected to return and could be joined by Pedri (muscle).
Predicted line-ups for Espanyol v Barcelona
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
Stats for Espanyol v Barcelona
Barcelona and Espanyol have faced one another 74 times, with the Blaugrana securing victory in 47 of those encounters.
Espanyol has managed to defeat their local rivals only seven times, while 20 matches have ended in draws.
Espanyol last overcame Barca in LaLiga with a 2-1 victory at Camp Nou in February 2009. Their most recent home league triumph over Barcelona was recorded in January 2007.
Only Thibaut Courtois (eight) has registered more clean sheets than Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic (seven) in LaLiga this season. Barca’s Joan Garcia has recorded six.
Espanyol possesses the fourth-best defensive record in the league, having allowed only 17 goals.
Yet, they are up against a Barcelona side with a total of 51 goals, which is 15 more than their closest rivals, Real Madrid.
Published: 2026-01-02 14:14:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
