Barcelona heads into the match as league leaders, boasting ten victories in eleven matchdays, while Espanyol risks slipping into the relegation zone this Sunday.
After a year without a Barcelona derby, Barça and Espanyol will face each other again this Sunday at the Olímpic de Montjuïc, a stadium that was home to the blanquiazul team between 1997 and 2009 and is now the home ground for the azulgrana side. Both teams arrive at the match under very different circumstances. Barça sits atop La Liga, while Espanyol could find themselves in the relegation zone depending on other results this weekend.
Hansi Flick’s men come into the derby with soaring morale and a well-rested squad. They enjoyed a clean week and have been relishing their two significant victories from the previous week, having thrashed Bayern Munich at Montjuïc (4-1) and dismantled Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu with a memorable second half performance (0-4). They have accumulated ten wins in eleven matchdays, hold a six-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, and have scored 37 goals in the competition. The Olímpic Lluís Companys has turned into a fortress for them, as they have won every match played there, both in La Liga and the Champions League.
In stark contrast, Espanyol’s situation is troubling. Manolo González’s side recently thrashed San Tirso in the Copa del Rey (0-4), but they have only managed to secure one victory in their last six league matches, a situation that has dangerously brought them close to the relegation zone. Furthermore, away from home, they have collected just one point out of a possible fifteen, which they managed to earn at the Metropolitano, and they are among the teams scoring the fewest goals in the league, with only ten to their name.
While current form highlights a significant disparity between Barcelona and Espanyol, statistics and history also paint a favorable picture for the azulgrana. Espanyol has not beaten Barça in La Liga since February 21, 2009, when Mauricio Pochettino’s team stunned Camp Nou with two goals from Iván De la Peña, who is now representing players like Gavi and Eric Garcia. Yaya Touré could not prevent the defeat of the side managed by Pep Guardiola. In total, they have met 195 times throughout history, with Barcelona winning 118 matches, drawing 42, and Espanyol claiming victory in 35 matches.
All these figures reflect Barcelona’s superiority and the favoritism of Hansi Flick’s side in this Sunday’s clash at Montjuïc, although a derby always brings its unique variables, particularly for an Espanyol side looking for a turning point against the league leaders and their eternal rivals.
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