Barca are flying high at the top of La Liga, sitting 10 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Espanyol, though, have only won one of their last five and currently sit 13th.

Twenty wins, six draws and two defeats - that is how Barca have performed in the league this term. Unbeaten in their last 16 league fixtures, Ernesto Valverde's side thumped Real Betis 4-1 before the international break.

It is going to take some effort from Atletico, or indeed Real Madrid, to prevent the Spanish champions from defending their title, while they are also in yet another Copa del Rey final.

Barca have not actually lost a league game against Espanyol since February 2009, which is an indication of the size of the task facing the visitors on Saturday afternoon.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how the home side could line up at Camp Nou.

POSS BAR XI vs. ESP

Out: Ousmane Dembele (hamstring), Rafinha (knee)

Lionel Messi's return to Argentina duty did not go as planned, with the attacker picking up a groin injury in their defeat to Venezuela. The 31-year-old has trained upon his return to Barca, however, and will be fit to start.

Luis Suarez limped off against Betis last time out with an ankle injury, meanwhile, and the Uruguay international was initially expected to miss out this weekend. The striker has also trained, though, and is expected to be available to lead the line.

Ousmane Dembele is still out of action with a hamstring problem, however, while Rafinha remains a long-term absentee following knee surgery.

Valverde has decisions to make elsewhere, with Nelson Semedo and Sergi Roberto vying for the right-back spot, while Philippe Coutinho will hope that the head coach reverts back to a 4-3-3 formation, which could see the Brazilian replace Arturo Vidal in the XI.

Gerard Pique will also start fresh from playing for Catalonia in a friendly against Venezuela during the international break.