MX23RW : Wednesday, December 12 13:08:22
Dec 8, 2018 at 7.45pm UK at ​RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat)
Attendance: 24,037
Espanyol
0-4
Barcelona
FT(HT: 0-3)
Messi (17', 65'), Dembele (26'), Suarez (45')

How Barcelona could line up against Espanyol

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in Saturday's La Liga clash with Espanyol.

The latest instalment of the Catalan derby will take place at RCDE Stadium on Saturday night as Espanyol welcome Barcelona in La Liga.

Espanyol have lost their last three in the league to drop down to seventh position in the table, while Barcelona currently top the pile on 28 points, one point ahead of second-placed Sevilla.

Eight wins, four draws and two defeats - that is how Barcelona have performed in La Liga this season. It has brought them 28 points, which is good enough for first position at this stage, but they have been far from their best.

Here, Sports Mole has taken a look at how the Spanish champions could line up on Saturday night.


POSS BAR XI vs. ESP

Out: Rafinha (knee), Sergi Roberto (hamstring), Samuel Umtiti (knee)

Luis Suarez and Arthur have both recently been on the sidelines with knee and muscular injuries respectively, but the pair trained on Thursday, and are expected to be handed spots in the starting XI for this match.

Arturo Vidal is also available following illness, but Sergi Roberto, Rafinha and Samuel Umtiti remain on the sidelines.

Only Nelson Semedo and Ivan Rakitic are expected to keep their spots from the team that started against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba all returning.

Head coach Ernesto Valverde has a decision to make when it comes to the involvement of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, meanwhile, with the pair seemingly battling for the starting spot alongside Messi and Luis Suarez in the final third of the field.

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Denis Suarez in action for Barcelona in April 2018
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How Barcelona could line up against Cultural Leonesa
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona1594241192231
2Sevilla1584327161128
3Atletico MadridAtletico1577121101128
4Real Madrid158252319426
5AlavesAlaves157351817124
6Levante156452725222
7Real Betis156451617-122
8Getafe155641612421
9GironaGirona155641717021
10Espanyol156361720-321
11Celta Vigo155552824420
12Real Valladolid155551315-220
13Real Sociedad155461818019
14EibarEibar155461923-419
15Valencia153931212018
16Leganes154561519-417
17Villarreal153571519-414
18Athletic Bilbao152851523-814
19Rayo Vallecano152491530-1510
20Huesca1514101230-187

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