Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol

Barcelona was the highest-represented club at the FIFA World Cup 2022, with 17 players called up by their respective national teams. While none of the players came back as the champions, Lionel Messi’s Argentina winning it all made Cules across the globe celebrate the victory as their own.

Now, over a month after they dispersed for Qatar, Barcelona return to action for a jam-packed second half of the season. Their first game after the restart sees them pitted against local rivals RCD Espanyol, and the team will look to send a strong message to the world with their performance on Saturday.

The derby will come with its own unique passion, drama, and high-quality football. Gerard Pique will undoubtedly be missed in the first official game since his retirement, but a win against the defender’s favourite opposition would be a fitting way to start the new era.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of the much-awaited Catalan Derby.

1. A high-voltage restart

Very few games in the world of football can claim to have a bigger buzz than the Catalan derby. Despite the stark difference in quality between the two sides, Barcelona and Espanyol seldom fail to bring their A-game for the local match, and Saturday too will see a similar atmosphere.

For the derby to be the teams’ first game after the restart makes it further special. Given that both sides will be in action for the first time after over 50 days, it will be a race to put away the rust and once again churn out free-flowing football for both parties.

Barcelona find themselves comfortably on top of the La Liga standings with just one loss and one draw in 14 games. Having 37 points by their name, Xavi Hernandez’s side sit 25 points clear of their rivals who languish in 16th place with just two wins.

The last time Espanyol got the better of the Blaugrana was back in 2018 when Oscar Melendo scored a late winner in the 88th minute. For nine games after that fateful day, Barça have not lost the derby and will look to keep the same record flying high when they face off at Spotify Camp Nou.

2. A squad revitalized

The first phase of the season was far from easy for Xavi who regularly lost players to injuries at key junctures. Despite signing two quality centre-halves in the summer, he found himself in an acute shortage of options when Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, and Andreas Christensen suffered simultaneous injuries.

As club football restarts after the long break, the manager finally has a fully fit squad at his disposal in what is a major boost.

Ronald Araujo received the medical all-clear ahead of the game and will be a part of Xavi’s squad although the coach confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the Uruguayan is unlikely to start.

Further, the international stars are well-rested after a strenuous World Cup campaign. Back with a fresher mind and a renewed focus, they will look to steer the Azulgranas over the next six months.

The most surprising inclusion on the squad list, perhaps, was that of Robert Lewandowski. The Polish International was sent off in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Osasuna in the final game before the break and was handed a three-game ban by the referee.

The club did not hesitate to appeal the harsh penalty handed to the striker and requested a precautionary measure of his sanction to the CAS. While their appeal was knocked back, a court in Madrid has granted a temporary pause on his suspension – a decision that has not sat well with Espanyol.

3. The first of many finals

Real Madrid gifted their arch-rivals the lead in La Liga with their untimely defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 13. Heading into the second half of the season, it is Xavi’s men who have a two-point cushion over Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Having had their UEFA Champions League hopes crushed early in the season, the domestic league title is the biggest silverware Barcelona can hope for. After investing hundreds of millions of Euros in the summer, the management expects Xavi to end the season with at least the league trophy.

24 games remain before the curtains fall on the 2022-23 edition of La Liga, and a flawless run from this point on will guarantee them the title they dream of. However, given Real Madrid’s ‘never say never’ attitude, the Catalans will have to be at the top of their physical and mental game.

Every game from this point on is virtually a final. Even the smallest of slip-ups could have massive repercussions. Only time will tell if the group of Barcelona stars have the resilience to walk away with the title.