| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
|
BARCELONA
Pinto Montoya, Mascherano, Puyol, Adriano Xavi, Busquets, Thiago Fabregas, Messi, Pedro |
ESPANYOL
Alvarez Lopez, Rodriguez, Moreno, Didac Baena, Gomez Weiss, Verdu, Coutinho Alvaro |
Barcelona playmaker Xavi has returned to training after a calf problem and may be fit in time for Saturday’s encounter with city rivals Espanyol at Camp Nou.
Midfield duo Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara could be recalled to the starting XI after being rested on the bench for Wednesday’s win over Malaga, but Gerard Pique (concussion) and Alexis Sanchez (thigh) are unlikely to feature.
Jose Manuel Pinto is expected to continue in goal, while young defender Martin Montoya could be preferred to Dani Alves at right back.
Espanyol will welcome back striker Kalu Uche, who missed Tuesday’s defeat at Granada with a knee problem, but Sergio Garcia (thigh) is a doubt, while right-back Felipe Mattioni and midfielder Juan Albin are both ruled out through injury.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- With its 4-1 victory over Malaga, Barcelona set a new club record for most goals scored in a single La Liga season (108), beating the previous record of 105 set in the 2008-09 campaign.
- The Blaugrana will play Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final in Madrid on May 25.
- With his hat trick against Malaga, Lionel Messi (pictured right) set a new European record for most goals scored in a top-flight season (68). The feat had previously been held by former Bayern Munich striker Gerd Muller, who had netted 67 times in the 1972-73 season.
- Espanyol has won just one of its last eight matches in La Liga.
- Mauricio Pochettino's men are on a nine-match winless run away from home in the league (D5, L4).
- Espanyol’s last victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou was a 2-1 success in February 2009.