Barcelona predicted line-up to face Espanyol in La Liga clash | OneFootball

FC Barcelona now have the opportunity to win the La Liga title themselves as Real Madrid have won their game. For La Blaugrana, this is the ideal scenario that they would have wanted themselves. However, now is not the time for Barcelona to get overconfident at all.

Defeating Real Madrid has now allowed the Catalan giants to be in a position where they can win the title for themselves just by winning once in La Liga. Moreover, they can manage this against none other than RCD Espanyol in their upcoming game.

Here is how Barcelona could line up for that encounter.

Expected Line-up:

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny

The Polish goalkeeper may not have had the best of weeks in terms of conceding goals, but the results of the team continue to be positive. His presence is important at the back, however, and it is likely that he remains in goal for this game.

Right-back: Eric Garcia

With sublime performances as the team’s right-back in Jules Kounde’s absence, Eric Garcia continues to prove his worth to the team. From playing as a defensive midfielder to now being deployed as a right-back, his versatility continues to prove why Hansi Flick wanted him to stay at the club.

Centre-back: Andreas Christensen

With Inigo Martinez suspended for this game, Hansi Flick will have to make use of an alternate option. At the the moment, the two players who seem most likely to battle it out for this opening in defense are Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo.

However, the Dane has been consistent whenever he has played following his return from injury. Thus, it would likely make sense to start him alongside Pau Cubarsi, unless Flick decides to be daring and start both Christensen and Araujo together.

Both Inigo Martinez and Jules Kounde look set to miss this game. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Centre-back: Pau Cubarsi

The young Spaniard remains one of the world’s most outstanding talents, and for good reason. His awareness and technical ability far exceed those of other players at his age, and he is already an undisputed leader at the back for this Barcelona team.

Left-back: Alejandro Balde

It will be a great blessing for Hansi Flick if he is able to count on Alejandro Balde as a starter in this upcoming game. His appearance against Real Madrid as a substitute was more than satisfactory, and he will be gunning for a starting spot now.

The Dutchman has been a crucial piece of the puzzle for Barcelona this season, and his place in the midfield remains undisputed for good reason.

A maestro in the Barça midfield, Pedri essentially runs this team. His chance creativity and ability to pick out surreal passes is simply unmatched, and he is an essential component of Hansi Flick’s system.

The Barcelona sensation continues to win over hearts all across the world with his game-changing qualities. With many big names of the sport now even pushing him as a Ballon d’Or favorite, it makes sense for Lamine Yamal to continue starting for Barcelona.

With Dani Olmo struggling to make a big impact in some recent games, perhaps it is time for Fermin Lopez to get a start as well. He had a goal unjustly ruled out in the recent El Clasico, and he will want to make sure that he can make a bigger difference if he gets another opportunity right after a game like that.

As he continues to push for the Ballon d’Or, Raphinha will need to continue delivering some big performances for the team. He did so against Real Madrid, and this is another opportunity for him to do so again.