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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Dec 7, 2014 at 4pm UK
 
Espanyol logo

5-1

Messi (45', 50', 81'), Pique (53'), Pedro (77')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Garcia (13')

Preview: Barcelona vs. Espanyol

Sports Mole previews the Catalan derby between Barcelona and Espanyol in La Liga.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will be targeting a seventh successive win when his team host Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Sunday.

Enrique has witnessed his side recovered from defeats to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo respectively to remain just two points behind in-form Real in the La Liga table.

With the club's crucial Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain coming up on Wednesday, Enrique could make several alterations to the team that edged out Valencia last weekend.

The likes of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Xavi could all drop to the substitutes' bench, with Pedro, Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha, who was suspended in midweek, potentially coming into the starting lineup.

Espanyol travel to Camp Nou having ended a run of five games without a win by registering a 2-1 victory over Levante.

That triumph saw the Periquitos move up to 12th place in the league standings to create distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Coach Sergio is unlikely to make alterations to his side, but the Spaniard will be relying on Felipe Caicedo to provide a threat against the home backline.

The former Manchester City striker had gone seven games without a goal before netting last weekend, and Sergio will be hoping that's the start of a improved run in attack.

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WLLWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo; Alves, Mathieu, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Mascherano; Pedro, Messi, Rafinha

Espanyol:

Form in La Liga: LDLDLW
Form in all competitions: DLDLWW

Possible starting lineup: Casilla, Colotto, Arbilla, Fuentes, Bertrand, Sanchez, Sevilla, Canas, Vazquez, Garcia, Caicedo

Sports Mole says: 4-0


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Written by
Darren Plant
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Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic celebrates with his teammate midfielder Sergi Samper after scoring during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) round of 32 first leg football match S.A.D. Huesca vs FC Barcelona at El Alcoraz stadium in Huesca
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona27193575274860
2Real Madrid28186459273260
3Atletico MadridAtletico28168446222456
4Athletic Bilbao281410446242252
5Villarreal27128749381144
6Real BetisBetis2812883835344
7Mallorca28117102834-640
8Celta Vigo28116114141039
9Rayo Vallecano2891093131037
10Getafe2899102523236
11Sevilla2899103237-536
12Real Sociedad28105132530-535
13GironaGirona2897123641-534
14Osasuna2771283339-633
15Espanyol2777132639-1328
16Valencia28610123146-1528
17AlavesAlaves2869133242-1027
18Leganes2869132643-1727
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2867153247-1525
20Real ValladolidValladolid2844201863-4516


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