MX23RW : Monday, December 23 05:08:51| >> :120:21255:21255:
[monks data]
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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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
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


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