Espanyol vs FC Barcelona: Probable lineups and surprise rotations for the League derby

Espanyol and FC Barcelona face each other this Thursday, May 15 in a new edition of the Catalan derby. The Blaugrana team is just one step away from securing the League title, while the 'Blanquiazul' team needs at least one victory to ensure permanence.

Barça arrives with renewed spirits after the epic victory in the Clásico against Real Madrid and with practically the entire squad available, except for the injured Marc Bernal and Jules Koundé, along with the sanctioned Iñigo Martínez.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitutes bench and the injured and sanctioned players of Barcelona of Hansi Flick for the Catalan derby against Espanyol. Complete analysis!

Probable starting XI for Barça:

1. (#01, P) Ter Stegen
2. (#24) Eric García
3. (#02) Pau Cubarsí
4. (#15) Andreas Christensen
5. (#03) Alejandro Balde
6. (#21) Frenkie de Jong
7. (#08) Pedri
8. (#16) Fermín López
9. (#19) Lamine Yamal
10. (#11) Raphinha
11. (#09) Robert Lewandowski

Barça bench (substitute players):

1. (#13, P) Iñaki Peña
2. (#25, P) Szczesny
3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
4. (#06) Gavi
5. (#07) Ferran Torres
6. (#10) Ansu Fati
7. (#14) Pablo Torre
8. (#17) Marc Casadó
9. (#18) Pau Víctor
10. (#20) Dani Olmo
11. (#32) Héctor Fort
12. (#35) Gerard Martín

Injured Barça players:

1. (#23) Jules Koundé
2. (#28) Marc Bernal

Sanctioned Barça players:

1. (#05) Iñigo Martínez

🥅 What will be the surprises and tactical variations of Flick's Barça against Espanyol?

In principle, Flick plans to make several tweaks to his Clásico lineup, with important adjustments in defense. Ter Stegen would be the starting goalkeeper, with Christensen and Balde back in the XI along with Fermín López and Lewandowski.

Goalkeeper and defense:

• Ter Stegen will be in goal, while Eric García and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs. Héctor Fort should also add minutes in place of the injured Koundé. In the center of the defense, Andreas Christensen could accompany Pau Cubarsí. This would mean an unprecedented defense this season, as the Dane has only seen action in three games so far.

Midfield:

• As a pivot, Frenkie de Jong will be there again. The Dutchman will once again be Pedri's partner in midfield, while Fermín López would return as the team's attacking midfielder. Dani Olmo, a starter in the last three games, would have a day off, while Marc Casadó will be available as a substitute.

Forwards:

• In attack, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski complete the Blaugrana attack alongside Lamine Yamal. The Pole was absent in the last three games and needs to return to action to recover lost ground in the fight for the Pichichi. For now, the culé '9' is two goals behind Kylian Mbappé (27).

🚑 CULÉ LOWS! How do they affect Barça against Espanyol?

The injuries of Jules Koundé and Marc Bernal are a major setback for FC Barcelona in the final stretch of the season. In addition, the team will not be able to count on Iñigo Martínez, due to suspension.

Below, we detail the individual impact of each Blaugrana absence in the Catalan derby.

Jules Koundé (starting right back)

• Impact: after playing 86 consecutive games with the club during the last 12 months, Koundé finally rested on matchday 33 against Mallorca. The Frenchman was the MVP of the Copa final, scoring the winning goal, but was injured in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan last Wednesday. The '23' has 4 goals and 8 assists in 53 games with Flick's team
• Consequences: in principle, Barça has not determined the time of absence of Jules, who suffers a distal injury to the biceps femoris of the left thigh. Flick only has Héctor Fort as a substitute right back and, in the Champions League, he opted for Eric García as an emergency solution. Ronald Araujo could also be a 'patch' to deal with his absence.

Marc Bernal (Midfielder, central midfielder)

• Impact: Bernal, one of the revelations of the youth academy, suffered a serious knee injury (rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament) and says goodbye to the season.

• Consequences: His absence deprives the team of a physical and tactical profile that had provided balance and energy in the center of the field. Bernal was a valuable alternative for matches of high physical demand and his absence forces Flick to rely more on experienced players or to advance the progression of other young players.

Ferran Torres (center forward/winger)

• Impact: Ferran Torres, the team's number 9 during Robert Lewandowski's injury absence, may have said goodbye to the season after undergoing surgery on Wednesday for appendicitis.
• Consequences: The "Shark" was very important in the Barça attack during Lewandowski's absence, scoring one of the goals in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid and in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter. He also broke a record in the last La Liga Clásico, with three assists in the first half.

Related

Ferran Torres, operated on for appendicitis: new confirmed absence at Barça

Iñigo Martinez (starting center back)

Iñigo Martínez during the Clásico against Real Madrid (4-3)

• Impact: Iñigo, leader of the defense throughout the season, will be out due to suspension, as he saw his fifth yellow card of the tournament against Madrid.
• Consequences: the Basque has 5 assists in 27 LaLiga games and his presence in the defense provides greater security to a Barça that, in the last five games, has conceded 7 goals. Cubarsí has accompanied him for practically the entire season, due to the physical problems of Araujo and Christensen.

In summary, the absences of Iñigo, Koundé and Bernal are a minor setback for Flick against Espanyol. Defensive solidity, creativity in midfield and depth to make rotations in the second half are affected, but the team trusts in the quality of its squad to add the three points in Cornellà, with the majority of starters available.

🚩 The possible surprise lineup of Espanyol! What will be the 'Pericos' plan?

• Starting XI: Joan García; Tejero, Sergi Gómez, Cabrera, Romero; González, Král, Expósito; Puado Roca and Fernández.
• Bench: Pacheco (P), Fortuño (P), Kumbulla, Calero, Hinojo, Aguado, Bauzà, Gragera, Pere Milla, Veliz, Cheddira.
• Injured: Pol Lozano. Sanctioned: Omar El Hilali.

Espanyol, for its part, arrives at the duel against Barcelona with a couple of key absences. The team will not have its starting right back, Omar El Hilali, due to suspension. In addition, Pol Lozano, the '10' of the 'Pericos' and a key piece for the center of the field, will also not be available.

This will force Manolo González to use, again, the Czech Alex Král in midfield. Espanyol comes from three consecutive defeats against Villarreal (1-0), Betis (1-2) and Leganés (3-2), the latter a result that again compromised its permanence in LaLiga.

The 'Blanquiazules', for the moment, are in sixteenth position with 39 points, five more than Leganés (18th). Hence, with a victory in the derby, they have the possibility of securing one more season in the First Division, after their last relegation in 2023.

• 📌 Follow the Catalan derby of matchday 36 of LaLiga live Espanyol vs FC Barcelona in FCBN and find out everything. Don't miss anything!