Barcelona vs Espanyol: La Liga Catalan Derby at Camp Nou

Follow live coverage of the Catalan derby at Camp Nou as FC Barcelona hosts Espanyol in a fiercely anticipated La Liga matchup.

FC Barcelona returns to league action this Saturday, kicking off after the World Cup break with the aim of maintaining their lead at the top of the table. The Catalan club finished the first part of the season as leaders, two points ahead of Real Madrid, and seeks another strong result to stay in control of the standings.

ALL THE DETAILS OF THE DERBI BARCELONA VS ESPANYOL IN LA LIGA 2022-23

The Barcelona side, managed by Xavi Hernández, welcomes Espanyol to Camp Nou for the season’s first derby. Espanyol arrive in this sixteenth game with 12 points, just one above relegation, and will be looking to surprise their rivals with a positive performance rather than any other aim.

In this derby, Barça will count on their top scorer Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker was suspended in the previous league match, but he received a clearance this week and will be available for Xavi Hernández. In response, Espanyol publicly criticized the decision and will not have institutional representation at the Barça stadium.

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Reactions from the Barcelona derby vs Espanyol

All the post-match reactions from the players and coaches as the game concluded are captured here.

Minute by minute

37′ Raphinha almost opened the scoring with a powerful shot from the edge of the area, the ball skimming the goalkeeper’s legs before deflecting off a teammate, keeping the goal from a finish just yet.

33′ Melamed had a chance for Espanyol after Joselu’s long ball, but a precise deflection from a Barça defender kept the score level.

31′ Providential intervention by Brian Olivan as he cleared a near-shot from Raphinha just as the Brazilian prepared to strike.

18′ Marcos Alonso doubled Barcelona’s lead with a well-placed header following a cross from Jordi Alba, finishing with a first-time strike that beat the goalkeeper.

10′ Lewandowski sought a long ball from Ansu Fati but the attempt went wide, missing a promising glimpse on goal.

7′ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL FOR BARCA! Marcos Alonso rose to meet a Christensen cross and steered the ball into the net at the near post. Lewandowski ended up inadvertently complicating the build-up in a rare off moment for him.

6′ Gavi looked set to score after a long ball from Alba found him behind Espanyol’s defense, but the goalkeeper made a sharp stop to keep the scoreline intact.

2′ Espanyol set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Calero alongside Vinicius Souza in midfield.

1′ The Barcelona derby kicks off at Spotify Camp Nou with a charged atmosphere.

14:00 Gavi and Lewandowski presented the Golden Boy and the Golden Boot to Barça fans before the game.

13:51 A strong display from Barcelona in the stands and on the pitch, signaling the team’s determination to secure three points.

The fans in the Spotify Camp Nou stands supported a charitable initiative linked with the Benestar Pediàtric program of the Fundació FC Barcelona, with players exchanging jerseys with young supporters as part of the club’s broader solidarity efforts.

13:32 A leaderful gaze from one of the players who carries significant responsibility for the game.

13:00 Eleven players per side take the field as Ansu Fati completes Barça’s front three, while Espanyol rely on Joselu and Braithwaite up front.

12:40 Ronald Araújo and Jules Koundé arrived early to join the squad in the stands, showing their readiness for the derby.

12:20 The federation’s committee had discussed precautionary measures following Espanyol’s correspondence; the ruling did not overturn the court decision, maintaining the status quo ahead of kickoff.

12:16 Barcelona issued condolences on the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, reflecting a moment of reflection before the clash.

12:13 Espanyol’s preview signaling that there would be no visiting supporters in attendance due to recent events surrounding Lewandowski.

12:10 The Barcelona dressing room is ready for the derby against Espanyol, with the team focused on delivering a strong performance.

Good morning to all readers following this match. The broadcast covers lineups, goals, stats, and more as Barcelona faces Espanyol, the fifteenth meeting in La Liga Santander 2022-23. Stay tuned for updates, videos, and analysis as the match unfolds.

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The great statistical preview of the Barcelona derby in La Liga

1. Barcelona have not lost to Espanyol in La Liga in 24 matches (W18 D6), the longest unbeaten run by either side in top-flight history since a 2-1 defeat in February 2009, a match in which current Blaugrana coach Xavi Hernández played as a player.
2. Since that 2-1 loss in 2009, Barcelona have won all 12 home matches against Espanyol in the top flight, keeping clean sheets in 10 of them, making them the team with the most home wins against Espanyol in the competition (87P 69V 9E 9D).
3. Barcelona have accumulated 37 points from 14 La Liga games in 2022/23, matching their second-highest tally at this stage of a campaign (37 points in 2010/11) following peaks in 2012/13 and 2013/14.
4. Espanyol had just two wins from their first 14 La Liga matches in 2022/23 (6 draws, 6 losses).
5. Barcelona has the most clean sheets among the top European leagues so far this season (11).
6. Barcelona conceded the majority of goals in the first 15 minutes this season in La Liga (three of five goals), the highest percentage in the league this season.
7. Espanyol (nine) and Barcelona (eight) have produced the most shots on the post in La Liga this season, while Lewandowski is the league’s most frequent woodwork shooter this season (four).
8. Joselu Mato has been involved in 50% of Espanyol’s goals this season in La Liga (8 goals, 1 assist). Among Spanish players, only Borja Iglesias (8) has scored more this season than Joselu.
9. Frenkie de Jong has contributed to a goal in his last two La Liga games, with a goal and an assist, though he has yet to string together three straight goal involvements.
10. Espanyol coach Diego Martínez has two wins in four La Liga matches against Barcelona since 2019, a record matched by only a few managers in league history.

Where to watch Barcelona vs Espanyol

Possible alignments

FC Barcelona (1-4-3-3): Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Eric Garcia, Christensen, Balde; Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.

Espanyol (1-4-3-3): Lecomte; Oscar Gil, Calero, Cabrera, Olivan; Souza, Exposito, Darder; Puado, Braithwaite and Joselu.

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Source: Goal