La Liga: Barcelona vs Espanyol: Team News, Preview and Prediction
Barcelona continue their march to the La Liga title as we enter the final two rounds of La Liga with both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid breathing down Barcelona’s necks. Espanyol enter the Camp Nou hopeful of a result that will take them one step closer to assured safety in La Liga.
Espanyol will have the good wishes of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid fans with them as the teams are level on points and one point behind the Catalan table toppers respectively. Luis Enrique is bullish about his team’s chances and could field a full strength side as is widely expected.
Team News
Barcelona
Barcelona have no new fresh concerns on the squad apart from an injured Claudio Bravo, who will be replaced by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in goal. Sergi Roberto is expected to start the game at right-back in place of Brazilian full-back Dani Alves. Luis Enrique is not expected to face any more problems with regards to his starting line-up.
Espanyol
Espanyol are set to be without the services of suspended duo – Oscar Duarte and Alvaro Gonzalez. Ciani is expected to fill in at centre-back and Javi Lopez will be reinstated at right-back after coming back from a suspension himself. Jose Canas and Papa Diop are set to be in midfield alongside Victor Sanchez.
Probable Lineups
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Iniesta, Busquets; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Espanyol (4-3-3): Pau; Lopez, Ciani, Roco, Duarte; Canas, Diop, Sanchez; Asensio, Caicedo, Perez
Form
Barcelona
Barcelona come into this game on the back of three consecutive wins that has seen them score 16 goals as well. They are on a run of form that is quite on track to take them to the La Liga title. These three wins were preceded by losses to Valencia in La Liga and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League
Last 5 Matches: L-L-W-W-W (Last Match: Real Betis 0-2 Barcelona)
Espanyol
Constantin Galca will hope his side take their win against Sevilla as their form guide into the game as the results prior to that are less than flattering. Espanyol have lost to Atletico Madrid, Levante and Las Palmas in the last five games while they’ve drawn one game against Celta Vigo.
Last 5 Matches: L-L-D-L-W ( Last Match: Espanyol 1-0 Sevilla)
What the Managers have to say
Barcelona
Luis Enrique wants his side to maintain focus as Barcelona have literally no breathing space on the table. He believes his side are in for an exciting finish. He says:
“The challenge is very attractive. We are playing our last game at the Camp Nou in what I hope will be a great atmosphere. Barça fans understand the difficulty of the match and the challenge that lies ahead … It does not bother me if the derby is intense, as long as my team focuses on the game.”
Espanyol
For Constantin Galca, the game is less about ruining Barcelona’s run in and more about their safety in the La Liga
“We’re playing Barça and we still need a point. We have to get involved in the game. It’s a derby and they’ll do all they can to win it … For us, we just have to focus on ourselves. It’s not a case of spoiling anyone’s plans. We are only concerned about our own game.”
Key Battles:
Luis Suarez vs Enzo Roco
Luis Suarez is in red-hot form at the moment and it seems fairly unlikely that anyone on this planet can stop him at the moment. Here is a man who boasts 48 goals and 18 assists in 44 appearances this season. The Uruguayan can be expected to increase his tally in the last two games and breach the 50 goal barrier for this season, a fine achievement in a team that boasts a forward line of Lionel Messi and Neymar Junior alongside him.
Up against him will be Enzo Roco, the Chilean center back who will be with a not regular partner alongside him in Michael Ciani who will probably be drafted in, in light of injuries to regulars. This could end up being a very interesting battle indeed.
Marco Asensio vs Sergi Roberto
Marco Asensio has had a good season for a beleaguered side. Having scored twice and assisted nine times in this Espanyol side accounts for a good tally for the twenty-year-old Spaniard who will hope to break into the Real Madrid setup under Zinedine Zidane next year. What better way to do that than score or assist against a full-strength Barcelona side looking to beat his parent club to the title.
Up against him will be fellow Spaniard Sergi Roberto who has found himself to have gained increasing importance in Luis Enrique’s side. Utility man for Barcelona, Sergi has had a good season and will face Asensio square on as he may be deployed at right back in place of Dani Alves. This is one battle to look out for.
Prediction
Barcelona are simply too strong for any team at the moment and Espanyol don’t look particularly equipped to beat them.
Barcelona 3-0 Espanyol