Xavi’s team is now on top of the La Liga standings, two points ahead of Real Madrid in second place. Espanyol, meanwhile, are in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone.
Team News
Barcelona
- As a result of the fact that Barcelona’s leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski has been suspended for the team’s next three league matches, a position has become available at center forward.
- It is possible that Ferran Torres will start in the final third of the field alongside Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele. On the other hand, it is possible that Frenkie de Jong will start in the center midfield position, leaving Gavi out of the starting lineup.
- Due to injuries, Ronald Araujo, Franck Kessie, and Sergi Roberto were not available for selection prior to the break for the World Cup; nonetheless, all three are in the running to be included in the team for this competition.
- It is possible that Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia will start in the midst of the defense for the home team, while Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso will take the two outside back positions for the team.
Espanyol
- Keidi Bare is sidelined for the season with a ligament injury, and Adria Pedrosa’s status is still up in the air owing to a hernia. Both players play for Espanyol.
- However, Leandro Cabrera is now free to play after serving a suspension, and the 31-year-old is anticipated to return to the starting lineup in the center of the defense for the match at Camp Nou.
- Martin Braithwaite is scheduled to play against the club that he left on a free transfer at the beginning of September. Head coach Martinez is expected to make a number of substitutions from the team that started in the Copa del Rey the last time out.
Possible Lineup
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Balde, Kounde, E Garcia, Alonso; Pedri, Busquets, De Jong; Raphinha, F Torres, Dembele
Espanyol: Lecomte; Gil, Cabrera, Calero, Olivan; Melamed, Souza; Braithwaite, Darder, Puado; and Joselu a
Prediction Analysis
While Espanyol have managed to score only 16 goals in La Liga during the 2022-23 season, Barcelona’s defense has been playing exceptionally well this season, allowing just five goals while playing 14 matches. On Saturday, a victory at home by a score of nil looks to be the most likely conclusion, as Barcelona should have too much for their competitors to handle in this matchup.
Our prediction is Barcelona 2-0 Espanyol