Barcelona are just one step away from sealing the La Liga title, and the stage couldn’t be more dramatic—they face city rivals Espanyol in a Thursday night derby that could crown them champions.
Espanyol vs Barcelona Preview
- Competition: La Liga 2024–25, Matchday 36
- Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
- Kick-off Time: 21:30 CEST
- Venue: RCDE Stadium, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain
- Espanyol Form (last 5 games): W-D-L-L-L
- Barcelona (last 5 games): W-D-W-L-W
- Last 5 Meetings: Espanyol wins 0, Barcelona wins 3, Draw 2
- How to Watch: Premier Sports, LaLigaTV (UK), ESPN+, fuboTV (USA)
Hansi Flick’s team is flying high on 82 points, four points ahead of Real Madrid, and with three games left to play, the finish line is in sight. Having already bagged the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona are on the verge of completing a stunning domestic treble in Flick’s debut season.
Their last-gasp 4-3 win over Real Madrid paved the way. With Los Blancos coming off a thrilling win against Mallorca on Wednesday, victory at the RCDE Stadium will now clinch the title, adding a sweet layer of derby dominance to their celebrations.
Espanyol, on the other hand, are fighting for survival. Sitting 16th with 39 points—just five clear of the relegation zone—they have everything to play for. They’ve lost their last 3 league games and managed only 1 win in their previous 5. But in a local derby, pride often fuels the unexpected, and the Parakeets will look to spoil the Blaugrana’s party while boosting their own survival hopes.
Form-wise, there’s little comparison. Barcelona are the most in-form side in Spain, currently unbeaten in 16 league matches—14 of which were wins. That incredible run has them tied with Athletic Bilbao for the longest unbeaten streak this season. Espanyol, in contrast, are wobbling at the worst possible time.
In their last 9 official clashes, Barcelona have dominated with 6 wins and 3 draws. Espanyol haven’t beaten their neighbors in years, and the odds are firmly stacked against them again.
Still, in football, especially in derbies, nothing is ever certain. Espanyol will give everything to delay Barca’s champagne moment—and perhaps save their own skin in the process.
Injured / Doubtful Players
Espanyol: P. Lozano and B. Olivian
Barcelona: M. Bernal, Pablo Torre, Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres
Espanyol vs Barcelona Predicted Lineup
Espanyol (4-3-3):
García; Carreras, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Expósito, González, Calero; Puado, Jaén, Roca
Barcelona (4-2-3-1):
Szczesny; Martin, Christensen, Cubarsí, García; De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, López, Yamal; Lewandowski
