La Liga leaders Barcelona will look to return to winning ways when they square up against Catalan rivals Espanyol on Saturday.
Having suffered a massive 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona will look to regain momentum with a win over Espanyol, who are yet to win a game in 2026.
Hansi Flick’s men will look to take another step towards defending the La Liga title with a win in this fixture. They are seven points clear of 2nd-placed Real Madrid, and with just eight games to go, the Catalan giants are certainly in the driving seat.
Barcelona have won each of their last six league games, but they are heading into this fixture on the back of a defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid. As a result, they will be eager to get things back on track as they prepare for the second leg away from home.
Meanwhile, the visitors, who were once in contention for a European spot, have fallen off the cliff at some pace. They have been winless since the turn of the calendar (13 league games without a win) and currently find themselves 10th on the table with 38 points in their 30 outings.
The visitors are heading into this fixture on the back of a 0-0 draw against Real Betis, but their overall form suggests they could have a very tough day at the office against Hansi Flick’s men, who will be out there to prove a point. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both squads and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
Hansi Flick’s men suffered another blow in the Atletico Madrid defeat as Pedri reported discomfort in his hamstring. He joins Andreas Christensen (knee) and Raphinha (hamstring) on the sidelines, while Marc Bernal (ankle) remains a doubt. Gavi is expected to start for the first time since August, while Frenkie de Jong will also be making his long-awaited return.
Flick will certainly shuffle the pack ahead of the second leg. He will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Joan Garcia will continue in goal. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs, while Pau Cubarsi (who is suspended for the second leg vs Atletico Madrid) will pair up with Ronald Araujo in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Eric Garcia will line up alongside with Gavi in the double pivot in the centre of the park. The duo will shield the backline and look to control the tempo of the game.
Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo feature on the flanks, while Fermin Lopez will take up the number ten role. Meanwhile, Ferran Torres should lead the line for Barcelona against Espanyol in this fixture.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; Eric Garcia, Gavi; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, OImo; Ferran Torres
Espanyol
The visitors have a boost as Pere Milla is back available after serving a suspension last time out, but they do remain without the services of Javi Puado (knee) and Clemens Riedel (suspended).
Espanyol will line up in a 4-5-1 formation, where Marko Dmitrovic will be an automatic pick in goal. Omar El Hilali and Carlos Romero will be the full-backs, while Fernando Calero should come into the XI to partner with Leandro Cabrera in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Cyril Ngonge and Tyrhys Dolan will feature on the flanks in the centre of the park. They will support the full-backs and also look to provide width to their attacks.
Meanwhile, Pere Milla, Pol Lozano and Urko Gonzalez de Zarate will feature in a more central role. The trio will look to ensure Barcelona midfielders do not dominate the ball too deep in their half. Finally, Roberto Fernandez is expected to be the one leading the line against rivals Barcelona.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Ngonge, Gonzalez, Milla, Lozano, Dolan; Fernandez
Key Stats
- Espanyol have been winless in their last 13 league games.
- Barcelona have won each of their last six league outings.
- Espanyol haven’t managed to beat Barcelona in La Liga since February 2009.
- Hansi Flick’s men have won each of their last four games against their rivals, including a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.
- Barcelona have the best attack in the division with 80 goals in 30 matches, which suggests Espanyol could be in for a long day at the office.
Player to Watch
Gavi
Gavi will be the player to watch as he edges closer to a full-fledged return after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The Spanish midfielder has made five appearances so far, racking up just 131 minutes along with an assist, but this fixture could mark his first start since August.
His energy, aggression, and ability to dictate play from midfield could provide Barcelona with a different dimension, especially in a game where they are expected to dominate possession. This is a massive opportunity for Gavi to stamp his authority and remind everyone of his importance to the team.
Prediction
Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol
Barcelona will be determined to respond after their setback in Europe, and this fixture presents the perfect opportunity to do so. Given their dominant run in La Liga and the quality they possess in the final third, Hansi Flick’s men are expected to control proceedings from the outset and put Espanyol under sustained pressure at the Camp Nou.
The visitors, meanwhile, are enduring a torrid run of form and will likely adopt a cautious approach in hopes of limiting the damage. While they might try to stay compact and frustrate Barcelona, the gulf in quality and momentum between the two sides should eventually tell, with the league leaders expected to cruise to a comfortable win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-0 win for the home team.
