Decisive derby: Espanyol plays for their life against a Barça that wants the title

The Catalan derby between Espanyol and FC Barcelona this Thursday will undoubtedly be very special for both teams. While Hansi Flick's team prepares to celebrate their 28th League title, Manolo González's team seeks to postpone the Blaugrana coronation with a victory that will allow them to move away from the relegation places once and for all.

Before the start of matchday 36, Barça has 82 points, 43 less than Espanyol (14th with 39 points). The Blaugrana team can be champions before the derby if Real Madrid draws or loses on Wednesday against Mallorca.

Otherwise, they will have to win in Cornellà to secure the title two matchdays before the end of the season. The 'Pericos', on the other hand, need to win to ensure their permanence in Primera. A 'Blanquiazul' defeat could be very dangerous, as Leganés (18th) and Las Palmas (19th) still have hopes of saving themselves.

🥅Espanyol goes for a miracle: they haven't defeated Barça in 16 years

Leo Messi and Xavi Hernández during the Espanyol-Barça match in 2008 (1-2)

Hence, Espanyol has two strong reasons to go for a victory against their neighbors. On the one hand, to achieve the goal of permanence and, in addition, to avoid a new Culé title celebration at their stadium, as it happened up to two years ago.

Xavi's Barça won LaLiga on matchday 34 thanks to a thrashing in Cornellà (2-4), a stadium where they have never lost in the League (they have 7 wins and 6 draws). In addition, the Culés have not lost a league derby for 16 years.

It was on matchday 24 of the 2008/09 season, at Camp Nou, when the team then led by Mauricio Pochettino surprised Pep Guardiola's team (1-2). A double by Iván de la Peña allowed the 'Pericos' to take a historic victory against a Barça that won its first treble that year.

As a visitor, the Blaugrana team has not fallen against Espanyol in the League since 2006/07 (3-1), when the 'Pericos' still played in Montjuïc. And, at the RCDE Stadium, the 'Blanquiazules' only have one victory against Barcelona in 15 matches (1-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals 17/18).

📊Last 5 visits of Barça to Espanyol in the League

1. 2022/23 (matchday 34): Espanyol 2-4 Barça.
2. 2021/22 (matchday 24): Espanyol 2-2 Barça.
3. 2029/20 (matchday 19): Espanyol 2-2 Barça.
4. 2018/219 (matchday 15): Espanyol 0-4 Barça.
5. 2017/18 (matchday 22): Espanyol 1-1 Barça.

⚽Barça and Espanyol, one victory away from their main objectives

Looking ahead to the match on matchday 36, both teams are just one win away from achieving their main objectives this season, where the 'Pericos' returned to Primera after their relegation in 2023. 

For the Blaugrana team, beyond the excitement of reaching the Champions League semi-finals and being just a couple of minutes away from advancing to the final, closing the season with the domestic treble (League, Cup and Super Cup) far exceeds expectations for the season.

Many considered 24/25 as a transition season, due to the youth of the Culé squad and the arrival of a coaching staff without previous experience in Spain.

However, the team's performance has been superlative in all competitions and the league title will undoubtedly be the most valuable prize for the great work done by the coach and his players.

Espanyol, on the other hand, once again set permanence as their number 1 objective after their return to LaLiga. For this, the 'Pericos' had the fifteenth most modest squad in LaLiga, only ahead of Celta, Alavés, Valladolid, Las Palmas and Leganés. 

Despite their bad streak in recent weeks (four matchdays without winning and three consecutive defeats), Manolo González's team has had an acceptable season, with 39 points resulting from 10 wins, 9 draws and 16 losses. 

In this way, the 'Blanquiazules' have a 5-point advantage over Leganés (18th with 34), so it is almost certain that they will maintain the category if they reach 42 units. In their last season in LaLiga, Espanyol was penultimate with 37 points, with which they were relegated along with Valladolid and Elche.

📌 Updated standings of LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25 (matchday 35)

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