Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Barcelona
Match Time & Date:
31/12/2022
14:00
Prediction: 2-0
Espanyol
There will be fireworks when Barcelona and Espanyol square off against each other at Camp Nou in the Catalan derby. Barca are eager to retain top position in the standings, and you should know that Raphinha and Co. are eyeing their sixth consecutive league win. Robert Lewandowski is banned for the match, while all Depay, Araujo, Kessie, Kounde, and Sergi Roberto are back to contention after missing the Osasuna game before the World Cup break.
In Lewa’s absence, Ferran Torres should lead the line for the home side. The visitors, on the other hand, head into the match following the Copa del Rey win over Atletico Paso, but given their anything but brilliant away record in La Liga, we are tempted to put our money on the Lewandowski-less hosts. As for the away side, Leandro Cabrera is back from suspension, but Dani Gomez will have to serve his ban in the local derby. Midfielder Keidi Bare remains in the treatment room.
Highlighted Player (Robert Lewandowski):
After scoring 36 goals in 59 league games for Znicz Pruskow, Robert Lewandowski joined Lech Poznan in June, 2008. The 184-cm-tall attacker scored 18 goals in 28 appearances for the club in the 2009/2010 Ekstraklasa campaign and during the season he was on Borussia Dortmund’s radar.
The Polish forward signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga side in June, 2010 and he quickly established himself as the team’s key attacker. Lewandowski was producing excellent performances with the Millionaires between 2010 and 2014 and it has to be noted that he won two Bundesliga trophies with the club (2010/2011, 2011/2012). He participated in the 2012/2013 Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund, but the Millionaires were beaten by fellow Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in the title game.
However, he betrayed Borussia Dortmund fans in 2014 as he signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga giants. Lewandowski impressed in the 2016/2017 Bundesliga campaign as he scored 30 goals in 32 league games for Pep Guardiola’s troops. The Polish footballer represented his homeland at Euro 2016 in France and he scored one goal at the showpiece tournament in France.
Highlighted Team (Espanyol):
Espanyol are a Catalan club that plays in Spanish La Liga. Espanyol were founded in 1900 and their original name was Sociedad Espanola de Football. In 1901 the Catalan club changed its name to Club Espanol de Futbol. Los Periquitos used to play in bright yellow shirts in the past, but current colour of the team’s home kit is blue and white.
Espanyol’s fiercest rivals are Barcelona and the two teams face each other in the Catalan derby (Derbi barceloni). Espanyol have always been in Barca’s shadow, but it has to be noted that los Periquitos have won four Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup trophies).
The likes of Raul Tamudo, Jose Maria, Antonio Argiles and Mauricio Pochettino are players with most appearances for the Catalan outfit. Espanyol play their home games at Estadio Cornella-El Prat and the capacity of the stadium is 40,500. Los Periquitos have never participated in the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid 
Osasuna 
Real Madrid
PSG
St Etienne
Monza 
Fiorentina
Real Sociedad 
Villarreal 
