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La Liga | Gameweek 15
Dec 8, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Messi (17', 65'), Dembele (26'), Suarez (45')

How Barcelona could line up against Espanyol

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in Saturday's La Liga clash with Espanyol.

The latest instalment of the Catalan derby will take place at RCDE Stadium on Saturday night as Espanyol welcome Barcelona in La Liga.

Espanyol have lost their last three in the league to drop down to seventh position in the table, while Barcelona currently top the pile on 28 points, one point ahead of second-placed Sevilla.

Eight wins, four draws and two defeats - that is how Barcelona have performed in La Liga this season. It has brought them 28 points, which is good enough for first position at this stage, but they have been far from their best.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how the Spanish champions could line up on Saturday night.


POSS BAR XI vs. ESP

Out: Rafinha (knee), Sergi Roberto (hamstring), Samuel Umtiti (knee)

Luis Suarez and Arthur have both recently been on the sidelines with knee and muscular injuries respectively, but the pair trained on Thursday and are expected to be handed spots in the starting XI for this match.

Arturo Vidal is also available following illness, but Sergi Roberto, Rafinha and Samuel Umtiti remain on the sidelines.

Only Nelson Semedo and Ivan Rakitic are expected to keep their spots from the team that started against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba all returning.

Head coach Ernesto Valverde has a decision to make when it comes to the involvement of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, meanwhile, with the pair seemingly battling for the starting spot alongside Messi and Luis Suarez in the final third of the field.

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Denis Suarez in action for Barcelona in April 2018
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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