Barcelona is set to face Espanyol on Sunday at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. A win could give them a nine-point advantage at the top of the La Liga standings. Hansi Flick’s team dominated Real Madrid with a 4-0 victory in El Clasico last weekend, putting them six points ahead at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Espanyol is sitting in 17th place and will head into the Barcelona derby after a strong 4-0 win against San Tirso in the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona vs Espanyol: Match Details
Match: Barcelona vs Espanyol
Date & Time: Sunday, November 3, 2024: 15:15 GMT
Stadium: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Barcelona vs Espanyol: Preview
Barcelona is looking to secure their sixth consecutive win across all competitions this Sunday. A win against their Catalan rivals would give them a nine-point advantage at the top of the league. Real Madrid was set to face Valencia on Saturday, but the match has been postponed because of the severe floods in Spain. This gives Barcelona the opportunity to extend their lead over their rivals to nine points this weekend. Flick’s team delivered an impressive display at the Bernabeu, defeating Real Madrid 4-0. Robert Lewandowski scored twice, while Lamine Yamal and Raphinha also found the net.
Espanyol has had a tough time against Barcelona lately, but in two of their last three La Liga matches, they managed to earn a draw. One of those matches was a 1-1 tie during the 2022-23 season. The White and Blues made their way back to Spain’s top league by winning the Segunda Division playoffs last season. However, with just 10 points from 11 games, they currently sit in 17th place in the La Liga standings. Manolo Gonzalez’s team has had a tough season so far, winning three matches, drawing one, and losing seven out of their 11 La Liga games.
Barcelona vs Espanyol: Team News
Barcelona will be missing Ferran Torres, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araujo for this weekend’s match. Eric Garcia is a big doubt for the team, as he hasn’t been able to get back to training after dealing with a recent muscle issue. The home team has no new injury worries, but returning players Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo should get a place in the starting lineup. De Jong and Olmo might replace Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez, but Gavi could find himself on the bench again as he works his way back from a serious knee injury.
Espanyol’s Veliz had an impressive performance, scoring a hat trick against San Tirso in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night. This puts him in a strong position to start in the upcoming match, possibly partnering with Javi Puado in the attack. Pol Lozano had to leave the game after coming on as a substitute in the cup match, and he will now be sidelined due to a muscle injury. On the bright side, Jose Gragera is expected to return to the team after recovering from a foot issue. Fernando Calero and Edu Exposito remain sidelined due to injuries.
Barcelona vs Espanyol: Possible Starting Lineups
Barcelona: Pena (GK), Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Espanyol: Garcia (GK), El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Olivan, Tejero, Kral, Gragera, Carreras, Puado, Veliz
Barcelona vs Espanyol: Prediction
Espanyol can turn this into a tough game for Barcelona, and we believe the visitors will find a way to score. It’s hard to imagine a situation where Barcelona doesn’t grab another three points. Flick’s team will create a nine-point lead at the top of the table this weekend. Our prediction: Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol
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