RCD ESPANYOL
v
FC BARCELONA
Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, Barcelona
December 19, 2010, 12:30 AM IST
If there’s any team that can threaten Barcelona’s dominance away from home, it has to be RCD Espanyol. Estadi Cornellà-El Prat is one place where the Spanish Champions will definitely not start as favourites.
Last season this very fixture saw two teams sharing the points. Given the fact that FC Barcelona went on to score 98 league goals, secure 99 points and finally win the league, manifests the might of the Periquitos. Dani Alves too was shown a second yellow card and subsequently a red. The champions eventually ended the game with a man and two points less. Despite having a decent game Guardiola described it as a point earned.
Team News and Tactical Brief
FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona has played 15 games and won 13 of those. Surprisingly the two aberrant results have come at the intimidating Camp Nou. However their away-form hasn’t been anything short of fabulous. Having won 7 out of 7 games away from home, Guardiola’s men will be approaching this game with flamboyance. Nevertheless, they are bound to get some intimidating reception at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat. Barcelona has travelled from the ignominy of a 2-0 loss to recently promoted Hercules to the admirable manita against Real Madrid. Their goals for and against in the last six games stands at a staggering 26-0.
Guardiola isn’t exactly known for experimenting and in the match against cross-town rivals a clichéd 4-3-3 is most likely. They made 938 passes in their game against Real Sociedad. This is the highest number of passes recorded since Opta Stats began in Spain. Another closely knit game is on the cards. However, Espanyol will try to close their rivals down as much as possible and probably will be successful to a certain extent. Mascherano was handed a rare start in last week’s home match against Sociedad, but Guardiola is likely to revert back to Busquets. Not because the Argentine international is any less than the academy graduate but because Busquets will have a better understanding with his team mates, which might just prove vital in the Catalan derby. Messi, Villa and Pedro are most likely to start in attack with the usual back four of Pique, Puyol, Alves and Abidal. Pique wasn’t used against Sociedad so as to keep him available for this vital match and the young Spaniard will have a huge responsibility at the heart of the Blaugrana fortress.
Possible Starting Line-up: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Villa, Messi, Pedro.
RCD Espanyol
Espanyol can trouble FC Barcelona like no other club can. Even in the match against Sociedad, the introduction of Raul Tamudo, an ex-Espanyol striker, brought out the most from the crowd. The Espanyol talisman stopped Barca from winning the league back in 2007 by scoring a quick brace at the Camp Nou. However, Tamudo won’t be there on Saturday but Espanyol’s propensity to exasperate Barcelona will surely be there. The hosts have played 7 games at home and haven’t dropped a point. This feat has inspired the club’s biggest fan group to launch an advertising campaign – This is Cornellà. Currently occupying the forth position in the Spanish domestic league and 12 points adrift of FC Barcelona, Espanyol will be hoping to reduce the gap to 9. The statistics might just give us one part of the story. However, the truth remains that FC Barcelona will indeed be playing their toughest match pre-Christmas.
Pochettino is completely aware of the threat posed by the visitors. “Barca, right now and statically, are among the two or three best teams of all time. Maybe even the best,” said the Espanyol manager. Spanish midfield duo of Manu Molina and Javi Lopez aren’t expected to feature in the weekend’s clash against Barcelona. The former is out with a broken nose, while the latter with a muscular injury. Midfielder David Lopez too will miss out because of hamstring issues. Despite the absence of a few players, Pochettino’s men will be up for the challenge. “The players should be able to give everything, but intensity will not be enough to win. When we play them we must do so without fear, put pressure on them and play in our own style, as we did last year. We all know what they can do, but we also know that we have seven wins from seven at the Cornella-El Prat, and we want to make it eight,” said midfielder Raul Baena.
Possible Starting Line-Up: Kameni, Dátolo, Duscher, Forlín, Osvaldo, J.Verdú, Luis García, Callejón, Víctor Ruiz, Dídac, Chica.
Key Facts
1. FC Barcelona has won all their 7 away matches and Espanyol has won all their 7 home matches.
2. Andres Iniesta donated his t-shirt,which he wore in the World Cup Finals, to Espanyol in the memory of his friend, the deceased Dani Jarque. “Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros” is written on the t-shirt which means, “Dani Jarque, always with us.”
TheHardTackle’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR
Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
Iniesta is now Espanyol’s eternal friend. His wonderful gesture that made the Late Dani Jarque immortal has endeared him to the Cornella faithful. He further cemented his position in their heart by donating the famous shirt to Espanyol. Iniesta has won millions of heart both on and off the field. FC Barcelona will be looking upto him for a wonderful performance on Saturday.
TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION
RCD Espanyol 1-2 FC Barcelona
Despite having a flawless home record, the hosts might just feel the heat. FC Barcelona’s form has been immaculate of late and the presence of a host of superbly talented individuals at every position on the pitch might just ensure that they return home with all three points.
TheHardTackle’s BLAST FROM THE PAST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBzUSTTFSbU