FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol meet this evening at 9.30 PM CET in the Estadi Montilivi (Girona) in the first ever edition of the Catalan Super Cup. The meeting between the two biggest clubs in Catalonia comes after neither side managed to collect three points at the weekend. Barça were beaten 3-1 in the Clasico with Real Madrid, while Espanyol played out a dull 0-0 draw at home to Deportivo.
The tournament has been created as a complement to the Copa Catalunya and features Catalonia’s two top flight clubs, while lower division teams will continue to battle for the former trophy (along with the Barça and Espanyol reserve teams). Using the old format, FC Barcelona won the title eight times compared to Espanyol's six.
20 named in squad
Luis Enrique made it clear in his Tuesday press conference that he’s taking his team to Girona “to try to win the game and the trophy.” He’s included thirteen first team players in his squad, along with seven from Barça B. The full twenty reads as follows: Ter Stegen, Masip, Montoya, Piqué, Rakitic, Xavi, Pedro, Luis Suárez, Rafinha, Bartra, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Adriano (who has been declared fully fit), Samper, Sandro, Munir , Adama, Grimaldo, Halilovic and Edgar Ié.
Each side can make up to nine substitutions, but can only make changes three times during the game.
Espanyol missing Sergio García
The ‘budgies’ will be travelling without their star striker Sergio García, who is out with a hamstring injury. Espanyol celebrated their 114th anniversary on Tuesday and are tenth in La Liga after conceding just two goals in their last five games.
