Barcelona Will Need to Be at Their Best to Beat Fired-Up Espanyol in Derby Clash

When Barcelona meet Espanyol in Cornella, the Catalan derby usually has a lot of spice. But at Camp Nou, that's not usually the case.

In fact, in games at Camp Nou, Barcelona usually walk all over their local rivals.

They have won the last seven league games against Espanyol there, notching five goals on two occasions and four on two more.

With the MSN trident prowling up front, there's every chance that could happen again, but equally this is the first time in years Espanyol go into the clash at the home of their enemies with belief that they can take something.

In Espanyol's 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon last weekend goalkeeper Diego Lopez broke a club record by not conceding for 586 minutes, before Duje Cop finally broke his resistance.

His side are ninth, having conceded only in two of their last nine games and not been beaten in 10.

The last defeat came on September 25, against Celta Vigo, but since then Quique Sanchez Flores' men have been impossible to topple.

Luis Enrique knows his opposite number well, with both of them at Real Madrid in the mid 90s, so won't be surprised by Los Pericos' newfound quality.

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

Espanyol have seven clean sheets, more than any other side, and only Barcelona themselves and Real Madrid have conceded fewer goals than Sanchez Flores' team.

Lucho did not want to take the traditional photo before the game with the veteran coach, preferring instead to focus on training his team.

"The important thing is that there is good play on the pitch," he said, per Ramiro Aldunate of Marca. "I don't understand the importance of a photo with Quique before the derby."

"I get along well with everybody," replied Quique, also per Cristina Navarro of Marca, ignoring the snub. "I am with those who want to be with me, I'm more mature and I don't care for such minor or insignificant things."

Barcelona flew to Qatar on Monday to play a friendly against Al Ahli which they won 5-3, before the players had two days off, returning to training on Friday.

If they do not emerge with three points on Sunday night in a game that allows them to eat into Real Madrid’s six-point lead at the top of the table, fingers will be pointed at the board for arranging this fixture as part of their Qatar Airways sponsorship deal.

However it should not be used as an excuse for defeat, because there was plenty of time to recover from a game which was little more than a training exercise, with the trip less strenuous than a Champions League away game.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Luis Enrique said, per Sport, that he had been watching Espanyol's 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid on December 3, as preparation for how they may take on the game at Camp Nou. He said:

"

I saw that game this morning, strangely enough. It's given me an idea of what we will have to do and what they will try to do against us. They don't mind the other team having the ball then they have players like [Felipe] Caicedo and [Gerard] Moreno on the counter.

I can't tell you what will happen, but most of the game will be in their half, we will have possession. A lot depends on what they do. We will react, but we won't change our style.

We want to have the ball, to create danger and to take advantage of the space we have.

"

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

While Barcelona will be wary, Espanyol feel confident going into this clash, with Pericos captain Victor Sanchez saying in a press conference:

"

This is football and we will see what happens. But they have to be excited for the game, with the belief that we can win.

We have a good dynamic, going nine [league] games without losing, and playing well. Barcelona are not in a dip but they are a little further behind Real Madrid than they are accustomed to being. They have lost more points than normal and one defeat came at home against Alaves. I hope this year we can win there.

"

Meanwhile, his team-mate David Lopez paid tribute to his team's run of good form, insisting they would be going to Camp Nou with the objective of attacking, and winning. He said, per Mark Staniforth of the Belfast Telegraph:

"

It's a good time because the team has realised that it is capable of doing great things. We have confidence and morale is high, but we have our feet on the ground and we have to be humble and keep working.

We cannot defend the whole game because they will end up scoring. Barcelona force you to take steps back and we must try to keep them away from our box and take advantage of our opportunities to try to win.

"

While pride is at stake for Espanyol, along with the desire to keep their unbeaten run going, Barcelona have more motivation still as they try to fight back in the title race.

Espanyol beat them 1-0 in the recent Catalan Super Cup clash, so revenge of sorts is up for grabs too.

Luis Suarez will want to celebrate his new contract, signed on Friday, with a goal, while Lionel Messi and Neymar will appear alongside him in what will be the last game the trident play in 2016.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Bleacher Report has learned the trio will likely be let loose on holiday after the game, with reserve players like Paco Alcacer filling in for the Copa del Rey second leg clash against Hercules on Wednesday night.

If there is any danger that hearts and minds will be on the Christmas break, captain Andres Iniesta is the man to dispel it.

The playmaker is heading into his 28th Catalan derby and is still excited about these games, which should set the tone for the team. His return after a knee injury has certainly precipitated the club’s improvement in form. He said, per Sport (link in Spanish):

"

They are different games. I’ve played them since I was 12, I’ve felt them and lived through them for a long time and now as a professional, even more so. A derby is always different, we will try to do the best we can, I think that playing at home gives us more possibilities. There is a lot at play, more than just the three points, but we will focus on doing things well in a football sense.

"

It is now a question of counting down the hours to a game which is being anticipated much more keenly in Espanyol’s parts of the city than usual, but Iniesta and the aim of chasing Real Madrid will ensure Barcelona are fully focussed—it should be a Christmas cracker.

Rik Sharma is Bleacher Report's lead Barcelona correspondent. All information and quotes obtained firsthand unless specified. Follow him on Twitter here: @riksharma .