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Attendance: 92,795
Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 29
Mar 30, 2019 at 3.15pm UK
 
Espanyol logo

2-0

Messi (71', 89')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez fit to start for Barcelona

Messi, Suarez fit to start for Barcelona
© Reuters
Catalan giants are hopeful that rest will help Messi to recover.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde said he will have forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez available for the derby against Espanyol on Saturday.

Messi, who scored twice in the reverse fixture which Barcelona won 4-0 in December, was ruled out of Argentina's second international match against Morocco with a groin injury, while Suarez has recovered from a sprained ankle.

When asked if the Argentinian striker would be 100 per cent, Valverde told the Spanish media: "We think so. He's been carrying a discomfort for a while, but we're trying to get him back.

"He had a few days of rest. We will be careful with him because he is vital for the rest of the season."

Barcelona currently sit at the top of LaLiga with a 10-point lead over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid and are 32 points ahead of Saturday's opponents, however Valverde, a former Espanyol player and coach, insisted both sides would have an added incentive for the match.

"We have in mind that it's a derby, which is very motivating for us and them," he said.

"After this break is the decisive part of the season and we have three games this week.

"We know what we're up against. Each match has a lot of importance and there's less time to recover."

Sergio Garcia is relishing Saturday's derby
Sergio Garcia is relishing Saturday's derby (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Espanyol forward Sergio Garcia insists his side are going into the Barcelona derby to win.

"A derby is always special," he told rcdespanyol.com.

"They are our city rivals and we are looking forward to the day of the match and to achieve a good result.

"In this type of game you never know. (The Camp Nou) is a very difficult ground but we are going with clear ideas and with the purpose of getting three points."

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Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against Lyon in the Champions League on March 13, 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid22154350212949
2Atletico MadridAtletico22146237142348
3Barcelona22143560243645
4Athletic Bilbao22118333201341
5Villarreal22107544331137
6Rayo Vallecano228862624232
7Osasuna227962731-430
8Mallorca2293101928-930
9Real BetisBetis227872528-329
10GironaGirona218492929028
11Real Sociedad2284101819-128
12Sevilla227782430-628
13Celta Vigo2274113135-425
14Getafe225981717024
15Las PalmasLas Palmas2165102634-823
16Leganes225891930-1123
17Espanyol2265112133-1223
18AlavesAlaves2256112534-921
19Valencia2247112237-1519
20Real ValladolidValladolid2243151547-3215


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