The Spanish champions have already suffered three defeats in La Liga this season but top the pile, two points clear of second-placed Real Madrid on the same number of matches.

Barca have also not lost to Espanyol in the league since February 2009 and will be confident of picking up a positive result on their return to action following the winter break.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the visitors could line up this weekend.

POSS BAR XI vs. ESP

Out: Ousmane Dembele (thigh), Arthur (groin)
Doubtful: Ansu Fati (hip), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (knee)

> Click here for Barcelona's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Barca will again be without the services of Ousmane Dembele and Arthur due to thigh and groin injuries respectively, while teenage attacker Ansu Fati is likely to miss out with a hip problem.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is also expected to be absent with a knee problem, meaning that summer arrival Neto is in line to make his La Liga debut for the club between the sticks.

The 30-year-old featured against Inter Milan in the Champions League on December 10 but has not yet appeared in the league for the team that he joined from Valencia during the summer transfer window.

Nelson Semedo is expected to get the nod over Sergi Roberto at right-back, while Ivan Rakitic could be preferred to Arturo Vidal in midfield, with the latter being strongly linked with an exit.

There are not expected to be any surprises in the final third, meanwhile, with Lionel Messi set to be joined by Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann once again.