Barça opens in 2020 with a derby against Espanyol in low hours

The FC Barcelona will debut in this new decade in the RCD Stadium in front of an Espanyol needier that never. The culés want to begin the 2020 with good foot and do not think in at all more than in carrying the three points of Cornellà. The 'pericos' will try to avoid it and expect to do well this said of "new trainer, safe victory". Abelardo will debut in the bench blanquiazul in front of his Barça after doing charge of the team these Christmass.

The Barcelona finish the 2019 like leaders in solitary of LaLiga and the big aim in this 2020 is to keep this privileged position until it finalise the competition. The Real Madrid is right now to two points, by what the barcelonistas depend on yes same to follow leading the classification. The triumph in front of the Espanyol is fundamental to start with the year with good foot and show him to the merengues who follows commanding in Spain.

For the crash, Ernesto Valverde will have several important drops, although only a surprising. Marc-André ter Stegen will not be in the RCD Stadium by fault of some annoyances in his knee that will separate him of the terrains of game during one or two weeks. The German also aims to be drop in the Supercopa of Spain, by what Net will have the opportunity to debut in League against the 'parakeets' this Saturday.

In addition to the absence of the germano, neither will be against the team blanquiazul by injury Arthur Melo and Ousmane Dembélé. The French follows recovering of his long injury and could reappear in the weeks to come. With the Brazilian there is more worry, since it carries was quite a lot of weeks and does not achieve to surpass his annoyances. Valverde Ensured in press conference that the midfield player will not go back to play until it was not to 100%.

On the other hand, it does not expect that the 'Txingurri' him of rest to any heavy weight in this derbi. Although Leo Messi and Luis Suárez returned of his holidays this past Thursday, both aim to the eleven in front of the espanyolistas. The two doubts of the Barcelona technician for the alignment could be in the right-handed side, with Semedo and Sergi Roberto contesting the place, and the centre of the field, with Rakitic and Vidal like candidates to accompany to Sergio Busquets and Frenkie of Jong.

By the other, except the presence forced of Net by the already mentioned injury of Ter Stegen, the one of Viandar of the Edge will bet by the ones of always. The trident from above is indisputable if all are well and, although the Argentinian and the Uruguayan only train twice before the crash, at all does to think that they will not go out of start. The '10' and the '9' are right now the players more in shape of the Barça and to surpass to the Espanyol will be necessary the offensive contribution of both.

The Espanyol expects to react with Abelardo

The Espanyol, by his part, occupies at present the last place of the classification of LaLiga and needs to begin to mark of three in three the before possible. The 'pericos' have 10 points and are to 5 of the salvation, by what can not allow the luxury to give the derbi by stray. The ones of Cornellà trusted Pablo Machín to give him the turn to the situation does almost three months, but the ex of the Girona did not attain to give with the key and was ceased before Navidad.

To relieve to the of Soria has arrived Abelardo, that will debut with his new team in front of his Barça, where happened eight years like player in active. The one of Gijón looks forward to to give him a wash of thorough face to the espanyolistas and wants to begin this adventure amargándole the night to the culés this Saturday. For this, the Asturian could recover to the 'Monito' Vargas, that carries all the week training with the group and could have varied minutes months after his injury.

The Barcelona splits like clear favourite in front of the blanquiazules, but can not think that it will be simple to win in the RCD Stadium. Begin a new year always is a species of subidón for many and the fans of the Espanyol expect that his begin to react against the Barça. If the logic fulfils , the ones of Valverde would not have to have problems to carry the three points, but a derbi is much more that logical and that is the hope that have all the 'pericos'.

Technical index card of the party: RCD Espanyol-FC Barcelona

• Party: Espanyol-FC Barcelona
• Competition: LaLiga 2019-20
• Stadium: RCD Stadium: BUY ENTRANCES
• Schedules and television: Saturday 4 January to the 21:00 (Spanish hour)
• Calendar 2019-20: League Santander, Champions League, Glass of Rey