The Christmas break is well and truly over and FC Barcelona start a hectic January schedule with a visit to neighbours RCD Espanyol in one of the most talked-about derbies in recent years. Barça are flying high at the top of the table, but their city rivals are also having an excellent season, with very real aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time ever.

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Barça can never expect a warm welcome when they visit the RCDE Stadium, but this year the reception is expected to be frostier than even. Supporters of the 'parakeets' were anything but pleased when their star goalkeeper, Joan García, announced that not only was he leaving the club whose youth system he entered at the age of 15, but that he was doing so to join their fiercest rivals, FC Barcelona.

This is the first time García has returned to Espanyol, and it's been one of the biggest talking points in the build-up to this game.

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Parakeets flying high

Despite losing the services of one of the best young goalkeepers in the world, this season Espanyol have looked very different to the team that spent most of 2024-25 teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. After a very strong start they began to fall adrift of the leading pack in La Liga. But after closing out 2025 with an impressive run of five straight wins against Sevilla, Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, Getafe and Athletic Club. Including three clean sheets, those 15 points have put them right back among the mix.

Under coach Manolo Gonzalez, they currently sit fifth, just two points behind Villarreal in fourth. They don't score many goals, but they don't concede many either (in fact, they have leaked three fewer goals than Barça). What it all means is that Saturday's 9pm CET kick-off is the first edition of the Derbi Barceloní since 2010-11 to be played with both sides among the top five in La Liga.

Head to head

Derbies are always intense affairs, and Espanyol always raise their game when they come up against their neighbours. It's thrown up some spectacular contests over the years, which makes it all the more impressive that Barça have managed to avoid defeat either home or away in 28 games editions of the oldest derby in Spanish football. 

The De la Peñazo of February 2009, when bottom-placed Espanyol stunned the runaway league leaders 2-1, may be part of Espanyol folklore, but since then Barça have strong together 21 wins, 7 draws and not one loss, which equates to one of the longest unbeaten streaks in Liga history.

Barça on a roll

And if Barça can start 2026 the way they ended 2025, Espanyol have a lot to worry about. Hansi Flick's side have done nothing but win in their last eight outings, placing them top of the table with four points more than Real Madrid in second (and who have a tough game of their own on Sunday at 4.15pm CET against Real Betis).

Team news

Hansi Flick revealed in his pre-game press conference that Ronald Araujo is nearing a return to action after taking a short break to focus on personal issues, and Dani Olmo has recovered from his shoulder injury sustained against Atlético Madrid. Moreover, Pedri, who was having soleus issues late last year and sat out the 2-0 win at Villarreal, is also fit to play. But Andreas Christensen and Gavi, who are both nursing knee injuries, remain out of contention for Saturday.

On the other side, Javi Puado is reportedly ready to return following a knee issue of his own, but Espanyol will be missing the services of both the injured Roman Terrats and of Charles Pickel, who is representing DR Congo at the African Cup of Nations.

 

 

 

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