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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Dec 7, 2014 at 4pm UK
 
Espanyol logo

5-1

Messi (45', 50', 81'), Pique (53'), Pedro (77')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Garcia (13')

Preview: Barcelona vs. Espanyol

Sports Mole previews the Catalan derby between Barcelona and Espanyol in La Liga.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will be targeting a seventh successive win when his team host Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Sunday.

Enrique has witnessed his side recovered from defeats to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo respectively to remain just two points behind in-form Real in the La Liga table.

With the club's crucial Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain coming up on Wednesday, Enrique could make several alterations to the team that edged out Valencia last weekend.

The likes of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Xavi could all drop to the substitutes' bench, with Pedro, Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha, who was suspended in midweek, potentially coming into the starting lineup.

Espanyol travel to Camp Nou having ended a run of five games without a win by registering a 2-1 victory over Levante.

That triumph saw the Periquitos move up to 12th place in the league standings to create distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Coach Sergio is unlikely to make alterations to his side, but the Spaniard will be relying on Felipe Caicedo to provide a threat against the home backline.

The former Manchester City striker had gone seven games without a goal before netting last weekend, and Sergio will be hoping that's the start of a improved run in attack.

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WLLWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo; Alves, Mathieu, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Mascherano; Pedro, Messi, Rafinha

Espanyol:

Form in La Liga: LDLDLW
Form in all competitions: DLDLWW

Possible starting lineup: Casilla, Colotto, Arbilla, Fuentes, Bertrand, Sanchez, Sevilla, Canas, Vazquez, Garcia, Caicedo

Sports Mole says: 4-0


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Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic celebrates with his teammate midfielder Sergi Samper after scoring during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) round of 32 first leg football match S.A.D. Huesca vs FC Barcelona at El Alcoraz stadium in Huesca
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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