Barcelona will be eager to remain firmly atop La Liga when they welcome Espanyol to Camp Nou in Derbi Barceloni on Saturday.
The curtains will fall on Matchday 15 of the 2022/23 La Liga season on Saturday, with three games scheduled. The action on the day will begin with Derbi Barceloni, with Barcelona set to host Espanyol at Camp Nou.
2022/23 has been a topsy-turvy season thus far for Barcelona. The Catalan heavyweights have been imperious in La Liga, dropping points just twice in 14 games. And after conceding only five goals in those outings, Xavi Hernandez’s men are perched atop the table. But Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League campaign ended with a whimper, and they will continue their European journey in the Europa League next year.
On the other hand, Espanyol’s 2022/23 campaign has been dreadful thus far. The Periquitos have managed only two wins from their 14 La Liga games thus far, losing six times. Such output has left Diego Martinez’s men perilously close to the relegation zone, with 18th-placed Sevilla only a point behind. The slight positives have come in Copa del Rey, with Espanyol beating Atletico Paso 1-0 in the second round last week.
Barcelona clinched a 1-0 win over Espanyol in the corresponding fixture last season, with Memphis Depay scoring the only goal. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
🚨 SQUAD LIST 🚨#BarçaEspanyol pic.twitter.com/svj77IeTdI
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 30, 2022
Xavi Hernandez does not have any injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of the visit of Espanyol. But the Barcelona manager will be without at least one pivotal first-team player on Saturday.
Robert Lewandowski was supposed to be unavailable for the next three La Liga games due to a suspension. But he has received a temporary reprieve and will take on Espanyol. Otherwise, Xavi should have a full-strength squad at his disposal heading into Derbi Barceloni. That said, the involvement of a few players is doubtful, particularly Jules Kounde, who rejoined training on Wednesday.
Kounde was involved in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, as France lost to Argentina. And the former Sevilla defender will unlikely start against Espanyol. So Andreas Christensen should pair up with Eric Garcia at the heart of the Barcelona defence against Espanyol.
Hector Bellerin is not in favour under Xavi and might not start as the right-back. So Alejandro Balde, whose future is up in the air amid links with Chelsea and Manchester United, should feature on the right flank. And Jordi Alba will likely start as the left-back, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen between the sticks.
Sergio Busquets’s future is uncertain as he considers departing from Spotify Camp Nou. But the Barcelona captain should sit at the base of the midfield, with Frenkie de Jong and Pedri starting alongside him. So Gavi will be on the bench along with Franck Kessie.
Ousmane Dembele resumed training earlier than expected and has been with the group throughout the week. So the Frenchman should feature in the final third, with Raphinha being the other wide attacker. And Lewandowski will likely spearhead the Barcelona attack against Espanyol after being available.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Balde, Christensen, Eric Garcia, Alba; Pedri, Busquets, de Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembele
Espanyol
Unlike his counterpart in the Barcelona dugout, Diego Martinez has some pressing issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Camp Nou. On Saturday, the Espanyol manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players.
Keidi Bare is a long-term absentee due to a ligament injury that will keep him sidelined until February. In addition, Adria Pedrosa is a major doubt due to a hernia issue. Otherwise, Martinez has a fully-fit squad heading into the derby at Camp Nou.
🎙️ Diego Martínez: "We know it’s a special and unique match. It will be an intense contest, but we must play with our heads and stick to our game plan".#BarçaEspanyol #RCDE pic.twitter.com/kifOhS69MS
— RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol_EN) December 30, 2022
Benjamin Lecomte should take his spot between the sticks, with Espanyol lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. Leandro Cabrero and Fernando Calero should form the central defensive partnership, with Oscar Gil and Brian Olivan being the full-backs.
Vinicius Souza and Sergi Darder should form the double pivot in the middle of the park. And the duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Nico Melamed will be the most advanced midfielder for Espanyol.
But the 21-year-old will often drift to the left flank and interchange positions with Javi Puado in the final third. Joselu will spearhead the attack on Saturday, with former Barcelona attacker Martin Braithwaite completing the offensive unit.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Gil, Cabrera, Calero, Olivan; Souza, Darder; Braithwaite, Melamed, Puado; Joselu
Key Stats
- Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 24 games against Espanyol in La Liga (W18 D6), their longest run without a defeat against the Periquitos in the top flight. Their most recent such loss dates back to February 2009 (1-2), a game that the current Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez played.
- Barcelona have collected 37 points after 14 games in La Liga 2022/23 (W12 D1 L1), equalling their second-highest tally at this stage of the season in the competition (37 points in 2010/11) and trailing only the 2012/13 and 2013/14 campaigns (40 points, W13 D1 in both).
- Espanyol have won only two of their first 14 games in La Liga 2022/23 (D6 L6), equalling their lowest tally of wins at this stage of the season in the top-flight (along with eight other instances).
- Barcelona have kept the highest number of clean sheets in the big five European leagues this season (11). That is their highest tally of clean sheets after their first 14 matches in a La Liga season in the 21st Century.
- Espanyol (9) and Barcelona (8) have hit the woodwork most often in La Liga this season. In addition, Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has done so more times than any other player in the competition (4).
Player to Watch
Ferran Torres
Robert Lewandowski’s absence through a suspension has left Xavi Hernandez in a spot of bother. Ferran Torres and Memphis Depay seem the ideal options to fill the Polish striker’s void unless the Barcelona manager digs into the reserve squad. And Torres should get the nod on Saturday amid uncertainties surrounding Depay’s future.
Torres’s future is not set in stone either. But the coming games will give the Spanish international an opportunity to make his mark. And if he rises to the occasion for Barcelona, he will likely continue as a pivotal figure in the second half of the 2022/23 season.
Prediction
Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol
Barcelona and Espanyol could not be more unevenly matched heading into Derbi Barceloni. The two clubs are fighting vastly different battles in La Liga this season. And the hosts are far superior to the struggling Periquitos.
While form and history go for a toss in derbies the world over, Barcelona’s head-to-head record against Espanyol is overwhelming. And the Blaugrana should cruise to a 3-0 win this weekend, with Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati scoring.
