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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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rhs 2.0
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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