MX23RW : Monday, August 3 23:40:59| >> :60:1703:1703:
Jul 8, 2020 at 9pm UK at Camp Nou
BarcelonaBarcelona
1-0
EspanyolEspanyol
Suarez (56')
Fati (50')
FT(HT: 0-0)

de Tomas (45'), Lopez (90+4')
Lozano (53')

How Barcelona could line up against Espanyol

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up against Espanyol for Wednesday's La Liga showdown.

Barcelona will endeavour to move to within one point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid when they welcome relegation candidates Espanyol to Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.

Barca enjoyed an impressive 4-1 victory over Champions League hopefuls Villarreal on Sunday evening, but the Catalan giants remain four points behind Real Madrid as the season draws to a close.

Madrid do not take to the pitch until Friday, though, so a win for Barca here will increase the pressure on the league leaders while simultaneously confirming Espanyol's relegation from the top flight.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up for the visit of Espanyol.



POSS BARXI vs. ESP

Out: Ousmane Dembele (hamstring), Frenkie de Jong (calf)
Doubtful: Samuel Umtiti (knee), Junior Firpo (hip)

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

Given the manner of Barcelona's victory over a high-flying Villarreal side on Sunday evening, Quique Setien may be reluctant to make any changes to his side at all for the showdown with bottom-of-the-table Espanyol.

Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong are confirmed absentees for the hosts, while Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo are not expected to feature either.

Should Setien name an unchanged XI from the weekend victory over Villarreal, Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique will form a centre-back pairing once again in Umtiti's absence.

Sergi Roberto returned to the starting lineup as part of a midfield three with Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal last time out, and the trio are expected to feature from the first whistle against Espanyol.

Ivan Rakitic is an option for Setien should he wish to shuffle the pack, though, while Arthur has not played a single minute for Barca since his transfer to Juventus for next season was confirmed at the end of June.

Speculation has intensified surrounding the future of Antoine Griezmann recently, but the Frenchman repaid his manager's faith in him as he scored a delightful chip against Villarreal, and Griezmann is likely to start up top with Luis Suarez again in midweek.

Another player who has seen question marks appear over his future is none other than Lionel Messi, who bagged two assists at the weekend, but Barca president Josep Bartomeu is confident that the talisman will remain at Camp Nou and Messi is a shoo-in to feature from the first whistle against Espanyol.

ID:405399:

Who will win Wednesday's La Liga clash between Barcelona and Espanyol?

Barcelona
Draw
Espanyol
Barcelona
88.7%
Draw
6.1%
Espanyol
5.2%
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Antoine Griezmann in action for Barcelona on July 23, 2019
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Bartomeu: 'Barcelona players didn't oppose Griezmann'
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid38269370254587
2Barcelona38257686384882
3Atletico MadridAtletico381816451272470
4Sevilla381913654342070
5Villarreal381861463491460
6Real Sociedad38168145648856
7Granada38168145245756
8Getafe381412124337654
9Valencia381411134653-753
10Osasuna381313124654-852
11Athletic Bilbao381312134138351
12Levante38147174753-649
13Real Valladolid38915143243-1142
14EibarEibar38119183956-1742
15Real Betis381011174860-1241
16AlavesAlaves38109193459-2539
17Celta Vigo38716153749-1237
RLeganes38812183051-2136
RMallorca3896234065-2533
REspanyol38510232758-3125

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