RCD Espanyol face FC Barcelona this weekend in La Liga matchday 31 at the Spotify Camp Nou. The match comes at a delicate time for Barça, who must fit it between the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Atlético Madrid.
According to a report from barcauniversal.com, Barça manager Hansi Flick is considering rotations for this derby. The Catalan side lost the first leg of their European tie 2-0 and played a large portion of the match with ten men. Despite this, the source suggests Barcelona deserved to win and has good reason to believe in a comeback. A win against Espanyol could boost confidence ahead of the second leg.
What will Barcelona's lineup be?
Barcelona's situation is complex due to fixture congestion. Pedri was substituted at half-time in the match against Atlético due to discomfort, but this has left him better rested for the clash with Espanyol. Frenkie de Jong is expected to return but is unlikely to start. Marc Bernal is unavailable.
This leaves several options in midfield for Flick. Gavi could start. Dani Olmo and Fermín López are other alternatives, with both capable of playing in a deeper role. Eric García is also an option for the midfield. Rotations are also expected in defence and the forward line.
What happened in the last meeting?
The last La Liga meeting between the two sides was held at the RCDE Stadium and ended in a Barcelona victory. In that match, Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García had a standout performance. His role will again be important at the Camp Nou, where Espanyol will look to add points to improve their tenth-place standing.
The Periquitos have 3 points from the first three games, with a record of one win and two losses. You can check the full table on our standings page. They have scored 5 goals and conceded 4, giving them a +1 goal difference. They are 4 points behind leaders Atlético Madrid.
What is Espanyol's context?
For RCD Espanyol, this match is an opportunity to test themselves against a top rival at a time of potential tactical weakness for Barça. Luis García's squad must be focused to exploit possible rotations and opponent fatigue. A good performance at the Camp Nou would provide momentum for their next fixture.
After the Barcelona game, Espanyol will host Sevilla at home on September 6th. The Andalusian side is fifth in the table, making it another significant challenge. You can see the full schedule on our fixtures page. The team needs to find more consistency to climb the table.
Saturday's match will be an important test for Espanyol's defensive solidity and their ability to create chances against a rival that, despite everything, holds a seven-point lead in La Liga. The performance of Joan García in goal and their efficiency in attack will be key to getting a positive result at the Camp Nou.
