La Liga: El Derbi Barceloni Can be a Dream Start for Xavi

Barcelona vs Espanyol

What a way for Xavi to start his tenure as Blaugrana head coach when Barcelona take on Espanyol this weekend in La Liga.

It promises to be a spicy affair and a look at the Spanish League table will tell us this game is about more than the Catalonian bragging rights. It’s actually a mid-table clash between ninth and 11^th both on 17 points, though Barca have the better goal difference and a game in hand.

Is it disrespectful to call this a mid-table clash? Quite possibly yes, but it’s true! And that is why former playing legend Xavi has been flown in, firstly to restore the Blaugrana’s pride and then to make an assault on the top end of the league.

He has time to rebuild, but he also knows anything other than a victory in this derby will be a huge disappointment for his fans who are so desperate for success.

Win the game and Xavi has arrived.

RCD Espanyol come into the match on the back of a 2-0 victory over Granada while Barcelona let a three-goal lead through their grasp in a 3-3 draw away to Celta Vigo.

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Talking Points

Barca need a settled team

Even as a player, Xavi was recognised as an astute tactician with 20/20 vision and the ability to dictate the tempo of any game for club or country. His return to the Camp Nou has undoubtedly lifted the mood around the place and there is a distinct sense of optimism on the training ground.

But he cannot be expected to work wonders in an instant and Xavi will need some time to turn things around. And more than anything, he needs a settled group of players.

To be fair to his predecessor Ronald Koeman, Barca have suffered their fair share of injuries.

The arrival of Sergio Aguero was greeted with great excitement. Butfans who are already missing Lionel Messi had to wait for Aguero to make an appearance and now the Argentine striker has been diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia and will be unavailable for the foreseen future.

Ansu Fati missed much of last season, but the young sensation has scored three goals in his last five appearances this term though he too was withdrawn at half-time against Celta and may need a fitness test.

Top scorer Memphis Depay with six goals,has been a constant in the side and Xavi needs him to continue his form and stay fit.

Defenders Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, and Sergino Dest have all been sidelined meaning that Clement Lenglet is the mainstay at the back, while Eric Garcia and Oscar Mingueza have been drafted in.

De Tomas at home in the top-flight

Raul de Tomas will play a crucial role for Espanyol in the Derbi Barceloni in La Liga this weekend — Raul de Tomas celebrates after scoring Espanyol’s opening goal against Cadiz CF at RCDE Stadium

Having bounced back to the Primera Division last season by finishing top of the second tier, Los Periquitos have made a very solid start to life among the elite and head coach Vicente Moreno will be delighted how his star striker Raul De Tomas has continued his fine form.

The ex-Rayo Vallecano hitman arrived in Barcelona in 2020 for a club record fee of 20-M Euros and he fired RCD back to the top league as Segunda Division leading scorer with 23 goals.

The 27-year-old De Tomas has scored seven times and made two assists already this season, and he was in action for Spain during La Roja’s crucial 1-0 victory over Sweden to qualify for Qatar 2022.

Espanyol have already beaten Real Madrid 2-1 as De Tomas opened the scoring and they won’t shirk the chance to take another big scalp.

And with great La Liga 2021 results of three wins, two draws, and a single defeat from the last five games,Los Periquitos are in good shape.

History

The head-to-heads between Barcelona and Espanyol have made great reading for Barca fans over the years as the Blaugrana have beaten their local rivals 43 times in the 64 encounters since 1994. Over that time, there have been 15 draws and just six victories for Espanyol.

The last meeting came in 2020 when a goal from Luis Suarez was enough to keep Barca’s title hopes alive while Espanyol were consigned to the Segunda Division.

Barcelona are unbeaten in 14 games at home to Los Periquitos and, while they have picked up four league wins already, the visitors are yet to win away in the league with three draws and three defeats.

Betting Tip

	Barcelona vs Espanyol	Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.02
	November 21, 04:00 (GMT+8)

The La Liga 2021 odds pitch the Catalans at odds of 1.35 to win with RCD at 7.33 and the draw at 4.65.

It might be a tight game but I think Barca should have enough quality to give Xavi a perfect start and a 2-0 home win is the most likely outcome at SBOTOP odds of 6.18.