LA LIGA PREVIEW: BARCELONA VS REAL SOCIEDAD

The newly minted league champions roll out against a side with plenty to play for.

Barcelona are the new champions of Spain. After delivering one of their best performances against Espanyol at the RCDE stadium, the Catalan giants clinched the league title with 4 games to spare. It's been a superb domestic campaign for Xavi's crew and they'll want to put on a show expected from champions in front of their fans, after which they'll lift the La Liga trophy.

It's not going to be a walk in the park though. They'll have to actually show up, as they'll be locking horns with Real Sociedad, who sit 4th in the standings but are being chased by Villarreal. A defeat will close the gap between them and the yellow submarines to 2 points. They've rediscovered their form in recent times, but were held at home to a draw by a spirited Girona last weekend. The three points here will be greatly needed, but what are the odds of an away side getting a win at the Camp Nou this season?

INTERESTING STATS

- Barcelona have the best defence in the league having conceded just 13 goals so far.

- The Catalan giants have only lost three matches out of their 34 league games.

Barcelona have won 21 out of the last 31 matches against Real Sociedad.

- Xavi’s team are unbeaten in their last 13 matches against Real Sociedad in La Liga.

-Barcelona have an excellent home record against the visitors, having won each of their last 24 home matches.

-Barcelona are the only team that have scored six goals against Real Sociedad in a single game in La Liga, securing a 6-1 victory in March 2021.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Pedri and Ronald Araujo didn't show up to the recent training sessions due to discomforts, and Gavi is suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards. This will give Xavi the chance to give some fringe players much needed minutes.

Marc Andre TerStegen has a record to break, so he'll be between the sticks. Marcos Alonso could replace Araujo in the backline. Kessie could come into the midfield, joining DeJong and Busquets. Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are expected to start alongside Robert Lewandowski. Pablo Torre, Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba and Ferran Torres will all be expected to show up at some point.

Real Sociedad

The visitors will be without the services of Brais Mendez, Umar Sadiq and Martin Merquelanz who are all out injured. David Silva will also be absent. Imanol is expected to field out the same XI that drew against Girona, bar Silva.

Alex Remiro will be in goal. Andoni Gorosabel and Aihen Munoz are expected to be the full-backs. Meanwhile, Igor Zubeldia and Robin Le Normand will be the centre-back.

Takefusa Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal will start out wide in the centre of the park. Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino will be the central midfielders. Illarramendi could come in for Silva and will be in support of Alexander Sorloth in the attack.

Where and when are Barcelona vs Real Sociedad playing?

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Stadium: Camp Nou

Date: Saturday 20 April

Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT

Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas

VAR: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva

Real Sociedad will be desperate for the win in order to maintain the gap between them and 5th place Villarreal. But it's the Camp Nou, where Barcelona have been nothing short of imperious this season. And the Catalans wouldn't want to disappoint their fans either, even though there's nothing left to play for.

LA LIGA PREVIEW: ESPANYOL VS BARCELONA

The most vital Catalan Derby in history, with all the ingredients needed to make it a classic. 

One team is playing to clinch the league title. The other is playing to stay alive in La Liga. As if the Catalan Derby doesn't get fiery enough when nothing but pride is what's at stake.

FC Barcelona have had an outstanding domestic season,setting new records with each game. Coming off a bit of a rough patch last month, they've had consecutive home wins against Betis and Osasuna and are a win away from clinching the league title. This should give them enough confidence as they travel to enemy territory.

Espanyol however, have contrasting fortunes. They sit at 19th, having endured a shambolic season in all competitions and stare relegation in the face. They'll have to play out of their skins to survive, and would've preferred not to play Barcelona in such a moment. This is a derby, however. A clash that has had 2 draws in the last 3 meetings. They have every reason to leave it all on that field. Whether that'll be enough will be known soon.

INTERESTING STATS 

-Barcelona have a good recent record against Espanyol and have won 36 out of the last 61 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Espanyol's six victories.

-Espanyol are winless in their last 25 matches against Barcelona in La Liga - the longest winless streak by any team in a regional derby in the competition.

-Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 14 games away from home against Espanyol in La Liga, with their previous such defeat in the competition coming in 2007.

-Barcelona have recorded 101 victories in 175 matches against Espanyol in La Liga - only Real Madrid have a better record against the hosts, with 107 victories.

-Barcelona are winless in their last two matches away from home in La Liga and could endure a streak of three such games in a row for the first time under Xavi.

Last five meetings

31/12/22 (LIGA) Barça 1 (Alonso) Espanyol 1

13/02/22 (LIGA) Espanyol 2 Barça 2 (Pedri. Luuk de Jong)

20/11/21 (LIGA) Barça 1 (Memphis) Espanyol 0

08/07/20 (LIGA) Barça 1 (L Suárez) Espanyol 0

04/01/20 (LIGA) Espanyol 2 Barça 2 (L Suárez, A Vidal)

TEAM NEWS

Espanyol

Luis Garcia will be without the services of Jose Gragera, who is out injured. Meanwhile, Espanyol do have a major boost as former Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite is all set to return to the squad.

Fernando Pacheco will start in the goal. Oscar Gil and Brian Olivan will be the wing-backs. Cesar Montes, Sergi Gomez and Leandro Cabrera will be the three central defenders. Denis Suarez, Sergi Darder and Javi Puado will take charge in the centre of the park. Meanwhile, Braithwaite is likely to pair up with Joselu in attack.

Barcelona

For the first time in a long while, Xavi has a fully fit squad at his disposal as Sergi Roberto has been declared fit for the clash. The coach has also confirmed that Dembele is 100% ready to start, so we may see Barça roll out their Gala XI for the first time since the Supercup final.

TerStegen in goal, Koundé, Araujo, Christensen and Balde in defense. Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie and Busquets, who'll be playing his last Catalan derby, will be in midfield. Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele will round up the attack, with Pedri/Gavi supporting them from the left.

Where are Espanyol vs Barcelona playing?

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Stadium: RCDE Stadium

Date: Sunday 14 May

Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT

Referee: Ricardo De Burgos

This has the potential to be one for the history books. Espanyol will leave blood, sweat and tears on the field, but Barcelona have everything they need to win this derby and clinch their first League title in 3 years.