Barcelona head into Saturday’s Catalan derby looking to respond after a difficult European night, where Atlético Madrid secured a first-leg advantage and Julián Álvarez earned Man of the Match honours in the clash, Softfootball reported.
Despite that setback, Hansi Flick’s side remain firmly focused on La Liga, where they are chasing a seventh straight victory to tighten their grip at the top.
This comes shortly after their emphatic Champions League run, including a dominant performance where Barcelona thrashed Newcastle 7–2 to book a quarter-final spot, highlighting their attacking firepower.
The Blaugrana also gave fans a glimpse of their readiness by posting a training clip on their X handle ahead of the derby, building anticipation for the clash.
Watch video below
With a seven-point lead over Real Madrid, Barcelona know a win here is crucial, especially with attention already drifting toward the second leg in Madrid next week.
Meanwhile, Espanyol arrive in poor form, still searching for their first league win of 2026, making this fixture even more challenging despite being the fresher side.
Team news
Barcelona are expected to be without Pedri due to a hamstring issue picked up against Atlético, which could hand Gavi a rare start. Frenkie de Jong may return to the squad, but Marc Bernal remains doubtful, while Andreas Christensen and Raphinha are ruled out.
Flick is likely to rotate his squad, with Ronald Araújo, Alejandro Balde, Fermín López and Ferran Torres all pushing for starts, while Pau Cubarsí could feature domestically despite suspension concerns in Europe.
For Espanyol, Pere Milla returns from suspension, offering a boost in midfield, but Javi Puado remains sidelined with a knee injury and Clemens Riedel is suspended.
Following a solid goalless draw against Real Betis, changes are expected to be minimal, with Fernando Calero likely stepping into the defense.
Possible lineups
Barcelona: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; E Garcia, Gavi; Yamal, F Lopez, Olmo; F Torres
Espanyol: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Ngonge, Gonzalez, Milla, Lozano, Dolan; Fernandez
Where to watch
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming Platform |
| Spain | Movistar LaLiga | Movistar+ |
| United Kingdom | LaLigaTV | Viaplay / Premier Sports App |
| United States | ESPN Deportes | ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | TSN+ |
| Nigeria | SuperSport | DStv / GOtv |
