Match Preview: Saturday 06/05/2006 20:00 (GMT+2): La Liga match day 37
FC Barcelona - RCD Espanyol

Camp Nou, Barcelona – capacity: 99.000


Referee: Esquinas Torres


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes – Belletti (Gabri/Oleguer), Marquez, Puyol, Sylvinho (Gio) – Xavi (Van Bommel), Iniesta (Edmilson), Deco – Larsson (Giuly), Eto'o, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard






RCD Espanyol(4-4-2): Iraizoz – Sergio Sanchez, Lopo, Jarque, David Garcia – Hurtado, Edu Costa, Ito, Corominas - Luis Garcia, Tamudo - Manager: Miguel Angel Lotina


Preview:

This years´s derby between FC Barcelona and Espanyol is, as so often in the past decades a very contrary event. On one side, there is the home team FC Barcelona that has won the Spanish Championship last Wednesday and on the other side is the Cup winner of this year Espanyol who struggles to stay up in La Pimera Liga. The newly crowned Spanish Champions will want to start their official celebrations with a win while Espanyol will fight for every inch on the pitch and every single point that can be won.


Before the match, to the delight of the Barca crowd, city-rival Espanyol has to line up and applaude to the Champions that will enter the pitch while the Barca hymn is played. For sure, one of the highlights of the evening! For the Barca crowed there is only one other team that could do a better job in this ceremonial act: the Non-Galacticos Merengues of Real Madrid!


After this beautiful and traditional ritual, Barca captain Carles Puyol will receive the Spanish championship trophy from the Spanish Football Federation President (who probably will be booed at, as any official from Madrid) prior to kick-off and he will present the trophy to the “Culés”.


For at least two Barca players, tonights match will be the last one in their career for FC Barcelona: Henrik Larsson and Gabri.
Both Barca player´s will leave the Club at the end of the season. One of Barca supporter´s favourite “Henke” Larsson finally decided to return home to Helsingborg, much against the wishes of the Barca fans, players and coaching staff. Gabri´s contract ends in the summer and after spending a long time as a fringe player in the first team it is time to move on. Gabri spent all his footballing life at Barca. Both Barca players, Swede Larsson and Catalan Gabri will be honoured by the Camp Nou crowd.


FC Barcelona coach claimed that he and his players will take the match very serious and they go out for a win. Barca´s superstar Ronaldinho will be out to entertain the Barca crowd with his exceptional skills and surely he will add value with his magical tricks to the "Fiesta" at Camp Nou. La Liga leading goal scorer Eto'o will be desperate to score a few more goals to widen his lead as "Pichichi" and to challenge Luca Toni of Fiorentina for the "Golden Boot" to become European's top goal scorer.


With Xavi back, Rijkaard has full choice in midfield and it will be difficult for him to put some of his great midfielder on the bench. Deco will be starting and for the other 2 places will fight 5 players: Iniesta, Edmilson, Van Bommel, Thiago Motta and Xavi.


We expect both brazilian attacking full-backs, Belletti and Sylvinho to start accompanied by Barca captain Puyol and Mexican Marquez in the two ncentral positions in defence. Gabri will make an appearance at some point later in the match. In attack we will have as usual Ronaldinho and Eto'o. The third attacker will be most likely the crowd favourite, Henrik Larsson, due to the fact that it will be his last appearance in Camp Nou, which will leave french winger Giuly on the bench.


Espanyol´s Lotina will be without two important midfielder´s, Brazilian Fredson and Ex-Barca "Little Buddha" Ivan De la Peña. Inspirational De La Pena will be missed in the creativity department of the midfield.





Our Prediction:

Espanyol will not give up and fight until the last minute for survival and to get some points out of Camp Nou. Espanyol will have the sympathy of the city-rivals and nobody wants to see them going down to Segunda A it will be extremely difficult for them to get a result. Barca will be able to play freely without any pressure and they will be just the better team.
But just for Espanyols sake:


FC Barcelona 3 - RCD Espanyol 3 (Eto'o scores 3!)

Visca el Barca!


Music: I say I little prayer 4u
Courtesy of fcbarcelonablog




Here are the odds for the game.

FC Barcelona 1,60

Draw 3,40
RCD Espanyol 5,50


To place your bet click here