Dec 18, 2016 at 7.45pm UK at ​Camp Nou
Barcelona
4-1
Espanyol
Suarez (18', 67'), Alba (68'), Messi (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Lopez (79')
Piatti (10'), Martin (13'), Caicedo (65')

Team News: Neymar returns to Barcelona attack for Espanyol clash

Neymar in action for Barcelona during their La Liga clash with Granada at the Camp Nou on October 29, 2016
© SilverHub
Neymar is back in Barcelona's starting lineup for the derby with Espanyol following his recent one-match suspension.

Neymar is back in Barcelona's starting lineup for this evening's Catalan derby with Espanyol following his recent one-match suspension.

The Brazil international joins Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack, while Denis Suarez is preferred to both Andre Gomes and Ivan Rakitic in midfield.

There is no place for the injured Jeremy Mathieu in the Barca ranks, meanwhile, with Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique again paired in central defence, as the hosts look to close the gap on La Liga pacesetters Real Madrid.

In terms of the visitors, who have struggled to find the net in this fixture in recent years, they are without Victor Alvarez, Hernan Perez and Leo Baptistao from the off due to injury.

Felipe Caicedo is therefore handed a starting berth at Camp Nou, a week on from bagging his first goal of the season to help Espanyol stretch their unbeaten league run to nine games.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, D. Suarez, Iniesta, Messi, Neymar, L. Suarez

Espanyol: Diego Lopez, J. Lopez, David Lopez, Reyes, Aaron, Javi Fuego, Diop, Jurado, Piatti, Moreno, Caicedo

Follow all of the action as it unfolds with Sports Mole's live text coverage right here.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid20154154183649
2Barcelona22146261184348
3Sevilla22144444281646
4Atletico MadridAtletico22126439182142
5Real Sociedad2213273631541
6Villarreal2299429151436
7EibarEibar2210573629735
8Athletic Bilbao2210572826235
9Espanyol228863029132
10Celta Vigo219393336-330
11Las PalmasLas Palmas227783133-228
12AlavesAlaves226972128-727
13Real Betis2266102235-1324
14Malaga225892936-723
15Valencia2155112940-1120
16Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo2147102634-819
17Leganes2246121537-2218
18Sporting GijonSporting Gijon2244142443-1916
19Granada2337132149-2816
20Osasuna2217142449-2510