Barcelona now have their hands on the La Liga trophy after Real Madrid’s draw against Girona in a decisive league match. The Catalan outfit now hold a clear six point lead and have the opportunity to extend it to an important nine point advantage in today’s Catalan derby.
Real Madrid’s result will give confidence to the Catalans and reduce the pressure going into this league match. Flick may rotate key players more than expected, as the league situation is already comfortable for the team.
The Catalan derby against a physical side like Espanyol is never easy for Barcelona. However, even a draw would be acceptable, as the team’s main focus is on the upcoming return leg against Atlético, where they must pull off a remontada to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Inside the Barça camp, there is a strong feeling that they will win the league comfortably in this situation. Therefore, they are likely to rotate more in the Catalan derby and conserve energy for the crucial match against Atlético. We may not expect Frenkie to play the second half, as the player is just returning from injury.