Espanyol vs Barcelona prediction, H2H and probable lineups - January 3, 2026
One of the fixtures of La Liga's 18th round will take place this Saturday at the Cornella-El Prat stadium in Barcelona, where Espanyol will host Barcelona in a fiercely contested Catalan derby. Let's take a closer look at this clash and consider a bet with promising odds for success.
Match preview
Espanyol is having its best season in over a decade and a half, currently sitting fifth in the table, just two points shy of the Champions League spots. Luis Garcia's side doesn't focus on possession—their ball control stats are the lowest in the league—but thanks to discipline, set pieces, and smart defensive play, the team consistently gets the results they need. Their ability to convert late chances is especially impressive—after the 75th minute, only Barca has picked up more points.
Despite the absence of Piquel and the possible limited involvement of Puado, the Parakeets retain a competitive lineup. One of their key players is goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, who ranks among the top three keepers in La Liga by several metrics. His performance could be the decisive factor in this derby. Espanyol knows how to endure and strike late, and even against the league leaders, they won't feel like underdogs.
Barcelona, since their defeat to Real Madrid, have rattled off eight straight wins in La Liga, netting 26 goals and keeping clean sheets in their last three matches. The return of Pedri and the stabilization of the defense, thanks to Eric Garcia moving to central midfield, have allowed Hansi Flick to bring balance to the squad. Barca now lead the table and are showing the kind of football reminiscent of their best stretches from the 2022/23 title-winning campaign.
The Blaugrana haven’t suffered any new significant injuries: Gavi and Christensen remain sidelined, and Dani Olmo is still not ready. Otherwise, the squad is fit for the derby, and Joan Garcia—formerly of Espanyol—will be especially motivated in goal. Given Barca's dominance on Espanyol's turf in recent years, Flick’s side is determined to extend their winning streak.
Probable lineups
- Espanyol: Dmitrovic, Romero, Cabrera, Calero, El Hilali, Gonzalez, Exposito, Lozano, Milla, Dolan, Fernandez
- Barcelona: Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde, Garcia, Lopez, Pedri, Yamal, Raphinha, Torres
Match facts and head-to-head
- Barcelona have not lost to Espanyol away in La Liga since 2007.
- Each of Espanyol's last six matches has featured fewer than four goals.
- Espanyol have not lost the second half in four of their last six meetings with Barcelona.
Prediction
Despite Barcelona's phenomenal form, Espanyol is one of those teams capable of making life difficult for them through disciplined defending and set-piece play. However, the visitors’ attacking firepower, current winning streak, and head-to-head record all point in Barca's favor.
