INTRODUCTION
It's Derby time! Barcelona fans, after watching Club Legend Lionel Messi lift the World Cup with Argentina, will be treated to an early kick off at home against local rivals Espanyol.
The current league leaders will have to avoid defeat to retain the top spot as Real Madrid play before them, but it's safe to say that Xavi's men have nothing but victory on their minds. So far, they boast the joint best attack in the league (33 goals scored), best defensive record (5 goals conceded) and most wins (12).
Espanyol are at the other end of the spectrum. Only two wins this term so far, the catalan outfit sit one point above the relegation zone. During the break, they've being in cup action twice though, winning both to book a tie with Celta Vigo on Jan 3. Periquitos held Barcelona to a 2-2 draw when the two teams last locked horns in February, but they have not beaten their Catalan rivals in Spain's top flight since February 2009.
INTERESTING STATS
- The two Barcelona-based rivals will be meeting for the 215th time in competitive games. As expected, the hosts have been the better team in these games with 125 wins to their name.
- The visitors have been able to get the better of the Catalans 45 times and 44 games have ended in draws. Barcelona are unbeaten in their last eight meetings against Espanyol, recording five wins in that period.
- In La Liga, the hosts are on a 24-game unbeaten run against the visitors, last suffering a defeat in 2009 at the Camp Nou. In that time, Barça have scored 58 goals, and Espanyol just seven.
- Barcelona have kept a clean sheet in their last six out of seven home matches against Espanyol in all competitions.
- Espanyol have failed to win 19 of their last 21 matches in La Liga.
Last five meetings
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)
30/03/19 (LIGA) Barça 2 (Messi 2) Espanyol 0
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Xavi will be glad to have a full squad at his disposal. No one in the Barcelona infirmary, Robert Lewandowski's ban suspended, all players fully motivated about the club's ambitions this season.
Marc Andre TerStegen, our new captain, had been immaculate this season and will start in goal. Ronald Araujo, Franck Kessie, Sergi Roberto and Pablo Torre have all been declared fit. Andreas Christensen and Jules Koundé both had great individual World Cup campaigns and will be available to reinforce the defense once more.
Frenkie DeJong also had a great campaign in Qatar and will be looking to cement his place in midfield, alongside Pedri, Gavi and Sergio Busquets. The attack line is fully stacked, with Memphis, Ansu, Dembele, Raphinha and Ferran Torres all itching to line up alongside Lewandowski.
Espanyol
Keidi Bare is out with a ligament injury, while Adria Pedrosa remains a doubt due to a hernia. Dani Gomez was shown a straight red card during Espanyol's first-round Copa del Rey tie against CD Rincon in November and will be unavailable.
Leandro Cabrera is available again following a suspension, though, and the 31-year-old is expected to be back in the middle of the defence for the clash at Camp Nou.
Head coach Martinez will make changes from the side that started in the Copa del Rey last time out, with Martin Braithwaite set to face the club that he left on a free transfer at the start of September.
Where and when are Barcelona vs Espanyol playing?
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou
Date: Saturday 31 December
Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
VAR: Santiago Jaime Latre
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz
CONCLUSION
Espanyol's coach Diego Martinez was able to mastermind a victory at the Camp Nou with Granada two seasons ago, but faces an uphill task here as Barcelona have changed in all aspects since that day.
The hosts have been impressive at home in the league and will look to end the year with another victory to remain as league leaders. The title charge starts now!
