Barcelona will head into Sunday’s derby in opposition to RCD Espanyol at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in excellent kind following emphatic victories in opposition to Bayern Munich (4-1) within the UEFA Champions League and Actual Madrid (0-4) in La Liga.
The Blaugrana have established a six-point lead on the prime, which they will additional stretch in gentle of Actual Madrid’s La Liga sport in opposition to Valencia being postponed.
Dani Olmo prepared to begin
Main as much as the sport, studies that Barcelona summer season arrival Dani Olmo is all set to return to the beginning lineup in opposition to Espanyol, on the expense of Fermin Lopez.
Olmo spent over a month out on the sidelines after struggling an harm throughout the earlier Catalan derby in opposition to Girona.
The 26-year-old new arrival returned to the squad in opposition to Sevilla however didn’t obtain any minutes however featured in Barça’s final two matches in opposition to Bayern Munich and Actual Madrid.
The Spanish worldwide featured for fifteen minutes in opposition to the Germans and 25 minutes in opposition to Actual Madrid. These two matches allowed supervisor Hansi Flick to ease him again into motion and ensure that he has totally recovered from his harm
As such, Olmo is now poised to return to the beginning lineup in opposition to Espanyol, taking the place of Fermin Lopez, who began within the Clasico, however was substituted at half-time for Frenkie de Jong, who’s .
Earlier than his harm, Olmo had scored in all three matches he had performed for Barcelona and was among the many standout performers at the beginning of the season.
The summer season signing made his mark on his debut in opposition to Rayo Vallecano, altering the sport after approaching at half-time to safe three factors, scored once more within the house thrashing of Actual Valladolid, and located the web as soon as extra in opposition to Girona (1-4) earlier than his harm.
Flick was delighted along with his performances and needed to rue his absence in six matches. However with Olmo now again and totally match, he’s all set to reclaim his place within the beginning XI this weekend.