Spanish La Liga Match Preview: Espanyol vs. Barcelona - Derby encounter in Spain
Barcelona are going to be involved in a derby game as they are going to visit Cornella-El Prat – the home ground of RCD Espanyol, the local city rivals of the Catalan Giants. The game is being made all the more exciting by the fact that both the sides are in extraordinary form this season. Josep Guardiola’s men are still to be beaten away from home as they have marked their greatest away run this season while their city rivals are still to be defeated at home.
While Barcelona have enjoyed 100% record on their travels and are currently sitting at the top of the table, the Blanc I Blau have managed to impress football fans while boasting a 100% record at their home ground and they are yet to lose a game at the Cornella-El Prat stadium. Currently, Espanyol are sitting at the fourth spot in UEFA Champions League. Both the coaches have been saying it aloud that the game is going to be very exciting this season. Both, Josep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino have been highlighting the fact that the game between both the teams is going to be an “intense and vibrant affair.”
Catalonia is also going to be on display for all the footballing fans around the world as both the teams are relying on their homegrown stars. While Barca’s youth academy La Masia is famous for producing extraordinary players, Josep Guardiola has thirteen players who have risen through the Camp Nou ranks to add their names to the first team. On the other hand, Espanyol are doing exceptionally well at making players as well as they have fourteen local players on their side.
Barca are going to enter this match without two of their players; Gabriel Milito and Jeffren Suarez, as they are still to recover from their respective injuries. However, the Catalan coach is going to try to continue his great run. For the last six games, Josep Guardiola’s men have not conceded a single goal and they have scored 26. The last player who was able to score past the Catalan defence was the Villarreal and Brazilian striker Nilmar when he scored in a game that was won 3-1 by Barcelona.
Before the game, Josep Guardiola told his fans clearly that Cornella-El Prat is going to highlight one of the most complicated games this season. Last season, Josep Guardiola’s side only managed to come out with a goalless draw and a single point. However, this time around, the Blaugrana wearing side look to be on an even better run and they know that they are going to be facing a very strong team with a very strong crowd backing them up.
Mauricio Pochettino has changed it all-round for Espanyol. This year, it is clearly seen that they are very solid at the back and defend the ball well. Moreover, their game has been fluid throughout the season as the players hold great confidence while attacking forward. While playing at home, the Blanc I Blau have shown how strong they are at the back. This season they have only conceded two goals in front of their fans. Right before the important derby game, Javi Marquez and Raul Baena are back in the team, which means that Espanyol are going to face Barcelona with the full team available to them.
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