Played
January 6, 2013 7:00 PM WAT
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee:‬ Jesús Gil‎
Attendance:‬ 73760‎
 
10′ Xavi
 
15′ Pedro
 
27′ Pedro
 
29′ (PG) Lionel Messi
 

Barcelona - Espanyol Preview: Vilanova poised for Blaugrana return in local derby

The Catalan giants expect to have their coach back in the dugout just two weeks after undergoing cancer surgery, as they bid to extend their record-breaking start to the season

By Karthick Arvinth

Carles Puyol, Tito Vilanova - FC Barcelona
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUP
BARCELONA
AC Milan
Valdes
Alves, Pique, Puyol, Alba
Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas
Pedro, Messi, Iniesta


ESPANYOL

Roma
Casillas
Lopez, Colotto, Moreno, Capdevila
Sanchez, Forlin
Mubarak, Verdu, Simao
Garcia

Barcelona have no major injury or suspensions problems to contend with ahead of Sunday's derby with Espanyol. Defender Adriano (thigh), and midfielders Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and Alex Song (knee) have all returned to training and are available for the Camp Nou clash.

Isaac Cuenca has recovered from a serious knee injury, and could make his first appearance of the season, while Eric Abidal is also nearing a return after a liver transplant.

Espanyol will had a late fitness test to goalkeeper Christian Alvarez, who is battling to recover from a hamstring strain. Defender Raul Rodriguez missed training during the week with a stomach bug and is a minor doubt.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Barcelona have won 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions.

  • The Blaugrana are on a 16-match unbeaten run at Camp Nou in all competitions (W13, D3).

  • Lionel Messi (pictured, right) has netted seven goals in his last four outings for Barca.
  • Espanyol are facing Barcelona for the 158th time. They have 34, drawn 36 and lost 87 of their previous meetings with their cross-city rivals.

  • Los Periquitos have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions (W1, D3, L4).

  • Espanyol are yet to taste defeat since Javier Aguirre took over as coach in late November, winning one and drawing four of his matches in charge.



Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 6, 2013 Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 5, 2012 Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 8, 2012 Espanyol 1 - Barcelona 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 8, 2011 Barcelona 2 - Espanyol 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Dec 18, 2010 Espanyol 1 - Barcelona 5
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Víctor ValdésGoalkeeper
2Daniel AlvesDefender
3PiquéDefender
5Carles PuyolDefender
18Jordi AlbaDefender
4Cesc FàbregasMidfielder
6XaviMidfielder
8Andrés Iniesta LujánMidfielder
16BusquetsMidfielder
10Lionel MessiStriker
17PedroStriker
13José Pinto ColoradoGoalkeeper
35MontoyaDefender
11Thiago AlcántaraMidfielder
14Javier MascheranoMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
7David VillaStriker
9Alexis SánchezStriker
13Kiko CasillaGoalkeeper
18Juan Daniel ForlínDefender
15Héctor MorenoDefender
3Diego Daniel ColottoDefender
11Joan CapdevilaDefender
26Víctor Sánchez MataMidfielder
10VerdúMidfielder
16Javier López RodríguezDefender
11SimãoMidfielder
7Raúl BaenaMidfielder
9Sergio GarcíaStriker
-GermánGoalkeeper
3Raúl RodríguezDefender
34Víctor Guillermo Álvarez DelgadoDefender
-Juan Ángel AlbinMidfielder
30Cristian GómezMidfielder
41AlfonsoMidfielder
18StuaniStriker
Players to Watch
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
32 46 1 0
Verdú
Verdú
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
35 9 7 0
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona
46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid
34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid
28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia
21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla
20 3