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Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 15
Dec 31, 2022 at 1pm UK
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Espanyol logo

Barcelona
1 - 1
Espanyol

Alonso (7')
Fati (25'), Gavi (30'), Alba (74'), Torres (75'), Pedri (76'), Xavi (90+7'), Raphinha (90+5'), Tenas (90+7')
Alba (78')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Joselu (73' pen.)
Olivan (30'), Cabrera (31'), Calero (55'), Souza (73'), Exposito (74'), Joselu (81'), Puado (90+6')

Barcelona handed triple injury boost for Espanyol clash

Barcelona handed triple injury boost for Espanyol clash
© Reuters
Barcelona boss Xavi names a full squad for Saturday's Catalan derby with Espanyol, including Robert Lewandowski, Sergi Roberto, Franck Kessie and Ronald Araujo.

Barcelona boss Xavi has been able to name a full squad for Saturday's Catalan derby with Espanyol.

The La Liga leaders were expected to be without the services of leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, who was handed a three-game suspension following his red card against Osasuna last time out.

However, Barcelona have been successful in placing a temporary hold on the ban, which will allow the Poland international to take to the field in the Barcelona derby on Saturday.

The Catalan side have also been able to recover Ronald Araujo, Franck Kessie and Sergi Roberto, who were all absent before the break for the World Cup.

Memphis Depay is also back in the squad, with the attacker featuring for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup.

Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto on October 23, 2022© Reuters

Araujo travelled with the Uruguay squad for the World Cup despite not featuring for Barcelona since the middle of September, having undergone a thigh operation at the end of September.

The 23-year-old has now been cleared to make just his eighth appearance of the campaign, with the defender named in the squad for the clash with Espanyol.

Kessie, meanwhile, picked up a muscular problem during the Champions League clash with Viktoria Plzen art the start of November, but he is fit enough to return to the squad.

Barcelona have also been boosted by the return of Roberto, who had been on the sidelines since suffering a shoulder injury against Athletic Bilbao towards the end of October.

Franck Kessie celebrates scoring for Barcelona on September 7, 2022© Reuters

"When he was there with the Uruguayan national team, we talked and had communication with the coach," said Xavi during his pre-match press conference when asked about Araujo.

"In the end, the player's feelings decide, he has told us that he is very well, we have to slow him down a bit and we will be cautious. In principle, he won't start, but he could have minutes."

There had also been some doubt over Eric Garcia's fitness, with the defender picking up a small issue in training, but Xavi has said that the Spain international should be fit to feature.

"He has felt some discomfort. We'll see if he can play tomorrow, but I don't think his injury is serious. We are still counting on him for tomorrow's game," added the head coach.

Meanwhile, Xavi said that "we will see the workload and manage the minutes" when asked about Jules Kounde and Ousmane Dembele, who played in the World Cup final for France.

Barcelona squad vs. Espanyol:

Ter Stegen, Pena, Tenas; Bellerin, Araujo, Christensen, Alonso, Alba, Kounde, E Garcia, Balde; Busquets, Pedri, Kessie, Roberto, F de Jong, Gavi, Torre; Dembele, Lewandowski, Fati, F Torres, Memphis, Raphinha

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How you voted: Barcelona vs Espanyol

Barcelona
87.6%
Draw
5.4%
Espanyol
7.0%
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Robert Lewandowski in action for Barcelona on September 17, 2022
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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