FC Barcelona will host Espanyol this Sunday (9:00 p.m.) in Montjuïc in the first Catalan derby of the season. The Barça team arrives fired up after beating Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu (0-4), a victory that allowed the Catalans to extend their advantage over the 'merengues' to 6 points.
The 'periquito' team, for its part, has just lost at home last day against Sevilla (0-2) and, beyond Thursday's comfortable victory against San Tirso, in the first round of the Copa del Rey (0 -4), coach Manolo García arrives with a significant loss and many doubts regarding the formation of his midfield.
The 'blue and whites' will not be able to count on who has been their 'brain' in the midfield, Pol Lozano, due to a muscle tear in the hamstring of his right leg that, in principle, will keep him out for around 2 weeks. The '10' started the last six games, forming a quite effective tandem with Alex Král.
Espanyol's midfield, in a 'square' against Barça
In that sense, his absence will leave a gap that is difficult for González to fill. José Gragera would be the most reliable option to accompany Král, but the 24-year-old is not at his best physically either after missing the match against Sevilla due to a muscle problem.
If Gragera does not arrive well at Montjuïc either, everything indicates that Álvaro Aguado will enter the XI. Espanyol's pair of pivots will have the difficult task of stopping the Barça offensive trident (Lamine, Raphinha and Lewandowski), in addition to Pedri González who is also going through a great moment.
Hansi Flick could initially opt for Frenkie de Jong to accompany Marc Casadó, with which the Tenerife native will have more freedom to participate in attack. Fermín López, Dani Olmo and Gavi are also waiting to add quality minutes against a Espanyol that, at the moment, is seventeenth with just 10 points, just one unit above the relegation zone.