LALIGA
Espanyol vs FC Barcelona: Flick's team goes for the last step towards an unforgettable League title
Published:15/05/2025 - 03:04h
Updated:15/05/2025 - 21:12h
Barça needs one more step for the league title against an Espanyol in need of points to avoid relegation
Espanyol and FC Barcelona face each other for the 174th time in LaLiga. The Azulgrana team is just one victory away from celebrating the league title for the twenty-eighth time in its history, while the 'Pericos' also need to add the three points to ensure their permanence in the First Division.
In a decisive derby, of opposing realities, Barça is a clear favorite to take its 104th victory against the 'Pericos' in the League and the twenty-seventh of the season. Hansi Flick's team remains undefeated this 2025 in the tournament, with an impressive streak of 14 victories and only 2 draws in the second round.
After the epic comeback against Real Madrid in the Clásico (4-3), Barça was only 2 points away from the championship, with 9 to play. The 'merengues' did their homework against Mallorca (2-1), but they depend on a miracle to arrive alive to the last two matchdays.
In that sense, the culés are going for the last step towards an unforgettable League title, full of thrashings, comebacks and with a full of victories against a clearly inferior Madrid.
One victory separates Barcelona from its 28th League title
And it is that, for Barcelona, a triumph against Espanyol, or a draw in the derby and another on Sunday against Villarreal, will be enough to celebrate a more than deserved League title.
Of course, the Azulgrana team will go out from minute 1 for the victory in Cornellà, a always complicated field where they precisely celebrated their last League title.
On matchday 34 of 22/23, the team then led by Xavi Hernández won by a landslide (2-4) to liquidate a tournament that they also dominated with an iron fist.
This season, despite having been 7 points behind Real Madrid on matchday 20, Flick's team managed to react in time in the second round. The Catalans arrive with 5 victories in a row and 14 triumphs in their last 15 presentations.
For now, Barça has a 4-point advantage over Madrid, with one more game for the Whites. If Barça wins the Catalan derby, they will go back to 7 points ahead of the 'merengues', with only 2 matchdays to play.
Similarly, two draws against Espanyol and Villarreal will be enough for the culés to be champions, because in case of a tie in points, the direct confrontation (8-2 favorable to the Catalans) and the goal difference tip the balance in favor of Barcelona.
| Team | MP | PTS | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 35 | 82 | 26 | 4 | 5 | 95 | 36 | 59 |
| R.Madrid | 36 | 78 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 74 | 38 | 32 |
| Atlético | 35 | 70 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 60 | 27 | 33 |
Last 5 matches of FC Barcelona in LaLiga
- 🟢 4-3 against Real Madrid in Montjuïc (matchday 35)
- 🟢 1-2 against Valladolid in Pucela (matchday 34)
- 🟢 1-0 against Mallorca in Montjuïc (matchday 33)
- 🟢 4-3 against Celta in Montjuïc (matchday 32)
- 🟢 0-1 against Leganés in Butarque (matchday 31)
The 'pericos', for their part, arrive at the derby in serious trouble after adding only 1 point from the last 12 at stake. Espanyol seemed to be heading for their permanence, without any scares, with a victory against Getafe (1-0) and a draw against Valencia (1-1) on matchdays 31 and 32.
However, the defeats against Villarreal (1-0), Betis (1-2) and Leganés (3-2) have lowered Manolo González's team to 16th place, with 39 points and 5 ahead of Leganés (34).
The fall in Butarque, last matchday, confirmed the crisis of the 'blanquiazul' team before receiving an undefeated Barça in Cornellà since the opening of the stadium in 2009.
In the first round, Barça won against Espanyol in Montjuïc (3-1) with a double by Dani Olmo and another goal by Raphinha. The three goals fell in the initial half hour, something that Hansi Flick's team has repeated on multiple occasions this season.
Last 5 matches of Espanyol in LaLiga
- 🔴3-2 against Leganés in Butarque (matchday 35)
- 🔴1-2 against Betis in Cornellà (matchday 34)
- 🔴1-0 against Villarreal in Villarreal (matchday 33)
- 🟡1-1 against Valencia in Mestalla (matchday 32)
- 🟢1-0 against Getafe in Cornellà (matchday 31)
Barça, going for the last step to win a League in which they have been clearly superior
In LaLiga 24/25, Flick's team are leaders in victories (26), goals in favor (95), goal difference (+59) and have defeated at least once 18 of their 19 rivals.
Only Betis (two draws) avoided falling against a Barça that, in addition, adds 15 thrashings and another 6 key comebacks to reach matchday 36 with one hand on the trophy.
Despite the slump in the final stretch of the first round, the team recovered in 2025, completing, for the moment, their best second half of the League in history after adding 44 of 48 possible points.
The team recovered the lead on matchday 24, after losing it momentarily on the 15th. In total, the culés have been leaders in 25 of the 36 matchdays played, a sample of the overwhelming Azulgrana dominance despite falling 5 times in the first round.
Hansi Flick will make rotations again in the Espanyol-Barça
For the Espanyol-Barça, Hansi Flick will make adjustments to his lineup again, after repeating XI in the return of 'semis' of Champions against Inter Milan and the Clásico against Real Madrid.
The most likely is that Ter Stegen returns to the goal instead of Szczesny, while Alejandro Balde would be back on the left side, after a month out due to injury. On the right, Eric García point again as a replacement for the injured Jules Koundé.
In the center of defense, Iñigo Martínez will be out, due to suspension, so it is likely that Andreas Christensen, with a very good second half against Madrid, will accompany Pau Cubarsí.
In midfield, the only likely adjustment points to the return of Fermín López to the position of attacking midfielder, instead of Dani Olmo. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong will continue in midfield, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal as wingers.
The other great novelty would be the presence of Robert Lewandowski as '9', after three matchdays absent due to physical problems. Ferran Torres' operation (appendicitis) opens the door of the XI to the Pole, who also needs to score again to rejoin the fight for the 'Pichichi'.
Espanyol, forced to win to ward off the ghost of relegation
Beyond the bad moment in the last month of competition, Espanyol has everything in their hands to ensure staying in LaLiga, at least, one more year. With a victory, Manolo González's team will ensure permanence, by distancing themselves to 8 from Lega with only 2 matchdays to play.
Alavés, seventeenth, also won on matchday 36, putting pressure on the 'pericos' by getting to only 1 point. Las Palmas (19th) continues with 32 and is practically relegated after falling against Sevilla (1-0).
However, the mission for Espanyol in the derby is of very high difficulty. The 'blanquiazules' have not defeated Barça at home since 2007, when they still played in Montjuïc and, in addition, they will have two key absences on Thursday.
Pol Lozano (injured) and Omar El Hilali (suspended) will not be available, with which the coach loses one of his midfielders and his starting right back. Thus, Manolo González's team will go for a setback that keeps the fight for the championship alive, at least, one more matchday.
- 📌 Follow live the Catalan derby of matchday 36 of LaLiga Espanyol vs FC Barcelona in FCBN and find out everything. Don't miss anything!
