No room for mistakes
Espanyol aim to dent Barca’s title hopes in Catalan derby
MADRID: With the champions 10 points clear and heading for their fourth title in five seasons, Espanyol are hoping to hinder their rivals Barcelona in a Catalan derby clash at the Nou Camp.
Espanyol travel to rivals Barcelona tomorrow looking to put a spoke in the wheel of their local rivals’ title bid.
Barcelona lead La Liga by 10 points and are cruising to what would be their 26th triumph in the competition and their fourth in the last five years.
However, Espanyol will do their best to delay their neighbours glory for as long as possible by taking a point or more this weekend in a Catalan derby clash.
“The coach (Rubi) knows how to cause damage and win there,” said Espanyol striker Sergio Garcia ahead of the match at Nou Camp.
“We cannot commit mistakes and we have to concentrate for 90 minutes, we can’t give things away.”
Barcelona are likely to have Lionel Messi back after a minor groin injury on international duty with Argentina, although his strike-partner Luis Suarez may miss out because of an ankle injury.
The Uruguayan will be analysed ahead of the game after training at a reduced rate during the week.
“We know how hard it is to win there,” added Espanyol defender Roberto Rosales.
“(Messi) shows his quality each week and the team wins. Our players have to concentrate to stifle his qualities.”
Should Espanyol deny Barcelona a sixth consecutive league victory, it will hand Atletico Madrid a lifeline.
Diego Simeone’s side, second, travel to Alaves later tomorrow where they will attempt to reign back the champions.
On loan Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata will lead the line for the visitors after his double for Spain against Malta in midweek.
However the clash against La Liga’s fifth place side comes shortly after the news that Lucas Hernandez will join Bayern Munich in the summer.
Losing the French defender is a bitter blow for the Rojiblancos and may further dent the confidence of a side which lost 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao last time out, following their Champions League elimination by Juventus.
Meanwhile Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane continues work as he looks to piece back together Los Blancos’ disappointing campaign.
After victory in the first game of his second stint in charge against Celta Vigo, Real host another struggling side in bottom of the table Huesca on Sunday.
The visitors are seven points from safety with just nine matches remaining.
“The dressing room is united, strong and convinced we can stay up,” said Huesca defender Martin Mantovani.
“That is very important to get to our objective, which is something I believe we’ll do.”
Celta Vigo host Villarreal in a clash between 18th and 17th respectively.
Four points separate the sides and should Villarreal triumph at Balaidos it would be a crucial step towards survival.
“There are games that are worth more than three points and the one this weekend is one of those,” said Celta Vigo coach Fran Escriba, who coached Villarreal in the 2016/17 season. — AFP