By Daniel Akinte
Espanyol have enjoyed an excellent 2025-26 campaign to date, with Manolo Gonzalez’s side boasting a record of 10 wins, three draws and four defeats from their 17 matches to sit fifth in the La Liga table, five points ahead of sixth-placed Real Betis.
The White and Blues finished 14th in Spain’s top flight last season, so there was clear room for improvement this term, and it has been an impressive campaign to date.
Espanyol have not finished higher than seventh in La Liga since claiming fifth in 2004-05, so there is plenty on the line this term, and the Catalan outfit will enter this match in strong form, having been victorious in each of their last five league games against Sevilla, Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, Getafe and Athletic Bilbao.
Periquitos have incredibly not managed to beat Barcelona at home in La Liga since January 2007, while their last league success was a 2-1 win at Camp Nou in February 2009.
Espanyol have been largely impressive at home this season, boasting a record of six wins, one draw and two defeats from their nine league games in front of their own supporters.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have won each of their last seven matches in all competitions, including a 2-0 success over Villarreal in their final match of 2025.
The Catalan outfit have triumphed in their last eight league games, with a total of 46 points from 18 matches leaving them top of the table, four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, with Los Blancos having a wobble towards the end of the year.
Barcelona have comfortably the best attacking record in La Liga this season, scoring 51 times, but they have conceded 20, which is the most in the top seven, and that will be concerning for head coach Hansi Flick at this stage of the season.
Blaugrana are looking to record a fourth straight win over Espanyol, but they did drop two points against their Catalan rivals at RCDE Stadium in February 2022.
Barcelona’s attention will switch to the Spanish Super Cup after this match, preparing to head to Saudi Arabia to tackle Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals of the tournament, ahead of a potential final against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.
