Following their 4-3 win over Real Madrid on Sunday, FC Barcelona are set to play against another rival in their next La Liga match as they face RCD Espanyol at Cornella-El Prat.
Their last El Clásico win widened the Catalans’ advantage over the Merengues to 7 points. Los Blancos reduced this gap to four points with their win over Mallorca last night, but the Blaugranes can restore their 7-point lead and actually win the league title with a win tonight.
Barcelona would be particularly keen to end this league race with a win at the stadium of their bitter rivals, and have thus announced a strong squad for this match.
The most notable absence is that of Ferran Torres, who had to undergo appendicitis surgery yesterday, and thus would be unable to play for the Blaugrana club again this season. Thus, he joins other players like Marc Bernal and Jules Kounde in the infirmary.
On the other hand, Pablo Torre has returned to fitness and has been named in the list for this game. Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado had already returned to the squad for the last game against Real Madrid. Robert Lewandowski is also fit for this game, and would probably start as Ferran Torres is unavailable.
The full squad announced by Barcelona for this game is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
- 1: Marc Andre ter Stegen
- 2: Iñaki Peña Sotorres
- 3: Wojciech Szczesny
Defenders:
- 1: Ronald Araújo
- 2: Pau Cubarsí
- 3: Eric Garcia
- 4: Andreas Christensen
- 5: Alejandro Balde
- 6: Hector Fort
- 7: Gerard Martín
Midfielders:
- 1: Pedri
- 2: Frenkie de Jong
- 3: Gavi
- 4: Dani Olmo
- 5: Fermin Lopez
- 6: Pablo Torre
- 7: Marc Casado
Forwards:
- 1: Robert Lewandowski
- 2: Raphinha
- 3: Lamine Yamal
- 4: Ansu Fati
- 5: Pau Victor
Injured:
- 1: Jules Koundé
- 2: Marc Bernal
- 3: Ferran Torres
Suspended:
- 1: Inigo Martinez
