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La Liga | Gameweek 29
Mar 30, 2019 at 3.15pm UK
 
EL

2-0

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

How Barcelona could line up against Espanyol

:Headline: How Barcelona could line up against Espanyol: ID:354602: from db_amp
Sports Mole takes a look at how Barcelona could line up in Saturday's La Liga clash with Espanyol.

Camp Nou will host the latest instalment of the Catalan derby this weekend as Barcelona welcome Espanyol.

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.


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.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
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