Barcelona begin 2026 with a trip to the RCDE Stadium to face local rivals Espanyol in the Catalan derby.Both sides arrive in exceptional form, though it’s Barcelona who boast the better record in this fixture. Hansi Flick’s league leaders are aiming to extend their dominance over their neighbours. The Spanish champions haven’t lost against Espanyol in their last 13 meetings.Espanyol vs Barcelona – Match preview and team newsDate: Saturday, 3rd January.Kick-off: 8pm BST.Venue: RCDE Stadium, Cornella De Llobregat.Espanyol team newsEspanyol will be without Charles Pickel, who is currently away with the DR Congo squad at the Africa Cup of Nations. Roman Terrats will also miss out with a hamstring injury.Javi Puado, who has been absent due to a knee injury with his last appearance dating back to October 5, could return to the squad, though he is unlikely to start given the limited preparation time.The remainder of the squad is available for selection, with Manolo González expected to field a full-strength side in a 4-3-3 formation featuring Roberto Fernández as the main attacking outlet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Barcelona team newsBarcelona will provide a major boost ahead of the derby as head coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that both Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal are fit and available for selection.Olmo, who suffered a dislocated shoulder during the rescheduled clash with Atlético Madrid in December, has now returned to full fitness. Yamal, who missed Thursday’s training session, has also rejoined the squad.Midfielder Pedri is also expected to feature after missing Barcelona’s previous match against Villarreal with a calf issue. However, Barcelona will be without Andreas Christensen, who sustained an ACL injury during a training session earlier this month.Midfielder Gavi faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines following knee surgery. Ronald Araujo, who recently took a period of absence to prioritise his mental health, has returned to training with the squad and could be involved in the derby. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});FormEspanyolEspanyol have impressed significantly, claiming an excellent 10 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses from 17 matches to sit fifth in the table with 33 points. Manolo González’s side have won five consecutive La Liga matches and are on the back of a 2-1 away victory over Athletic Club. Despite the attacking prowess of the leaders, Espanyol possess one of the meanest defences in the division, having conceded just 17 goals in 17 matches.BarcelonaHansi Flick’s side has been exceptional this season, extending their winning streak to eight consecutive La Liga victories. Barcelona currently sit atop La Liga with 46 points from 18 matches, boasting an impressive record of 15 wins, one draw, and two losses.The Catalans have scored an impressive 51 goals this season—the most in La Liga—though they have also conceded 20, the highest among the top seven teams. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Predicted lineupsEspanyol: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Gonzalez, Edu, Lozano; Dolan, Fernandez, Milla.Barcelona: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, E Garcia, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; F Torres. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});How to watch Espanyol vs Barcelona?Fans in the UK can watch via Disney+.Read Also – MLS side offer Harvey Elliott Aston Villa escape routeSee More – Ex-England pair back Adam Wharton for big World Cup roleFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube The post Espanyol vs Barcelona – Match preview and team news first appeared on The Football Faithful.