The derby came out as one of those games that will not be forgotten for a long time. A penalty in the last minute was enough to give Barca all three points. Barcelona continued the good run since their first win against Sporting de Gijon.

Pep Guardiola named four surprise changes to his team with Pique, Busquets, Gudjohnsen and Henry came in to replace Marquez, Yaya, Keita and Eto. Barca started strong and able to find the spaces, while Espanyol played deep and seem to counter attack. Despite the good chances Barca had to score, Coro was the one who gave Espanyol the lead in the 20th minute. The replay showed that Valdes was fouled by Luis Garca, but the referee allowed the goal to stand.

The goal came just to increase the intensity of the derby. Barcelona went forward willing to tie the score, but all their efforts were denied by Kameni and his defense. Before the break, Espanyol were forced to play with ten men, after Nene received his second yellow in the game.

The first half result gives no choice to Pep but just to risk, especially when the opponent is one man down. Eto, Keita and Bojan entered the pitch instead of Abidal, Gudjohnsen and Busquets. The back line remained only with puyol Pique and alves who was most of the time in the center half, together with Inesta, Keita and Xavi. Henry, Eto, Bojan and Messi were all put in front.

The referee had to stop the game for few minutes, when a number of home supporters tried to enter the field of play. Following a break of around ten minutes, the game started and Barca showed that they are going to score. One mistake by Kameni was deadly enough for his team, when Henry took advantage of the misunderstanding between Jarque and his goal keeper to bring the equalizer.

Three minutes were shown as an extra time. These minutes were enough for Barca to win the three points, after Messi scoring from the penalty spot the second goal, and his fourth goal of the season.

Deserved victory for the Blaugrana takes them up to ten points, this shows that Barcelona with Pep are able to find a way to win the title this year.

Once again, Frank Rijkaard mounts the podium after another disappointing away game in the La Liga.


FC Barcelona's away disaster continued in Montujic when the Blaugrana were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Espanyol after Barca went ahead with an Iniesta strike in the 6th minute, and could have been four goals up by half time, but only had themselves to blame after not being able to convert many chances throughout the 90 minutes of the encounter. A disappointed coach Rijkaard spoke to the press after the match, revealing his obsession to end the now established trend of a dismal away perforamnce:

It is necessary to put an end to this current dynamic and pick up an away win. We are working towards that.
After the first half, I thought we would, but we ended up dropping two points. However, there were positives, and we have to take something from that. We dominated and had chances, though in the second half Espanyol were more aggressive and showed that they are in great form.
We could not keep our calm amid their harassment. We defended too deep, while the forwards were too far forward, and we paid for it. With some more patience, we could have done more damage.

Frank Rijkaard spoke on Ronaldinho, who started the match on the bench and came on in the 64th minute, only four minutes before the Espanyol equaliser, after which it was too late to remedy the situation:

Ronaldinho is improving, he has good attitude and he is better physically. Hopefully, he will come to full recovery very soon.

The Dutchman also sopke on Argentine player, Lionel Messi, who lost two great chances that would have selaed victory for Barca in the second half:

Messi is a great player. His handling of the ball is incredible and he is spectacular, but with a little more experience, we would have won the game.

Barca dominated the Espanyol game and showed brilliance for most parts of the match, falling only to very poor finishing. The absence of Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o were clearly felt, though accolades must be poured on the efforst of Bojan Krkic, Andres Iniest and a brilliant fisrt half showing by Messi.

Barca's central striker lays his card son the table ahead of the Espanyol match.



Samuel Eto'o wishes he could play against Espanyol, but the strike ace will have to wait a little longer for his wishes to come true after and he's certified fit to play by the Barca medical team. Though he'll be off the pitch, Eto'o has his heart in the pitch as the La lIga clash takes place, and believes that Barca will defeat Espanyol and retain its position among the top three teams in the Spanish League table:

We can beat Espanyol. Our focus is now on Saturday in Montjuïc. Before Madrid, we have to think about that. That is the game we should be focussed on. It will be a complicated match. I know that if we are focussed and ready, then we can take the three points.

On the champions league final day for the group stage which will come up soon, the Cameroonian star dispels any suggestions that Barca will be relaxed against VfB Stuttgart as the Catalan giants have already qualified for the second round well aheadof the Stuttgart encounter:

What is important is that we are though and we have finished top of the group. I want to congratulate my teammates and the coach. But we also have to finish strongly by winning the last game. We are playing at home and we have to win. There are no teams that are harder or weaker. Sometimes the team with not such a famous name is the one that causes you the most problems. The advantage we have is that the second leg will be at home. It is an important advantage, but we cannot lose focus as if we lose the first leg 4-0 then it would be very difficult to score five at home because the other team will just defend. But we know we have already taken a big step forward.

Match Preview: Saturday 09/06/2007 21:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 37
FC BARCELONA - RCD ESPANYOL

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 99.000
Referee:


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Gio - Iniesta (Motta), Xavi, Deco - Giuly (Iniesta), Eto´o, Messi - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Espanyol (4-4-2): Kameni - Velasco, Lacruz, Jarque, Chica - Rufete, Moises Hurtado, De La Pena, Riera - Luis Garcia, Tamudo - Manager: ernesto Valverde


Match Preview:

FC Barcelona (2nd/72 points) meets Espanyol (12th/48 points) in the ever important derby at Camp Nou. A victory is a must be and anything else dents all title hopes. At the same time, the Merengues are expected to slip in La Romareda against Zaragoza!


FC Barcelona know that they need 6 points out of their last 2 matches and this includes the derby win against Espanol. While the Periquos are save in La Liga this time, their pride is at stake. Espanyol players have not forgotten the songs from last year when the Camp Nou crowd was singing "Segunda, Segunda" at the players in Blue and White. No sweeter would be the revenge, if Espanyol would hand over the title to Real by beating Barca at Camp Nou. The confidence is there, having won the first match at Montjuic 3-1.


barca is still unbeaten at home this season, but an unlucky draw as against Betis would not be enough. They have to win and will attack right from the start. Unfortunately the deadly and successful trio of Ronaldinho, Eto´o and Messi are not teaming up. Only Messi and Eto´o will start while Ronaldinho (red) is suspended. Also Brazilian anchor Edmilson will watch from the stands (5th yellow).
Captain Puyol was rested and Xavi was suspended from Spain's midweek game. Puyol will partner Thuram in the centre of defence. Zambrotta will play on the right and Gio on the left full back position. Iniesta, Deco and Xavi could start in midfield, to prove Barca´s willingness to win, but may be Rijkaard will opt to field Motta as a defensive midfielder and sent Iniesta on the right wing for Giuly. Marquez recovered from his injury and could be an alternative in defence or defensive midfield. Giuly might start on the right wing while Messi could change to the left to replace Ronaldinho.


Espanyol could start with Kameni in goal and Luis Garcia is fit to play upfront, while Uruguayan striker Pandiani may miss out due to injury. Former Barca player Ivan de La Pena is expected to marshal the Espanyol midfield and Moises will be his cover.




My Prediction:
I have a very good feeling and I am optimistic. I have been in Camp Nou in 1992 on the last match day, when Real bottled it in Tenerife (2-3). Barca has got a good record to clinch the title in the last momments (ask the Merengues and Depor!)

Another fact that gives us all hope: the Merengues have never won the final eight La Liga matches. They have already won 6 of the last 8, so it is time to slip. I guess there is no better place and timing than at La Romareda. If Real drops points, I guess that will be the Championship for Barca.


The pressure is on Barca, but the Blaugrana will cope.


FC Barcelona - Espanyol 2-0
Zaragoza - Real 1-0!



Visca el Barca!

Match Preview: Sunday 13/01/2007 22:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 18
RCD ESPANYOL - FC BARCELONA

Lluis Companys (Estadi Olimpic), Barcelona – Capacity: 55.000
Referee: Arturo Daudén Ibánez


Probable Line-Up:

Espanyol (4-4-2): Kameni - Chica, Torrejon, Jarque, Velasco - Rufete, Moises Hurtado, De la Pena, Riera - Luis Garcia, Tamudo (Pandiani) - Manager: Ernesto Valverde


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Belletti, Marquez, Puyol, Sylvinho (Gio) - Edmilson, Iniesta, Xavi - Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Saviola (Ezquerro) - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Preview:
It´s derby time in Barcelona tonight! The rivalry between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona goes back nearly a century before even Barca and Real Madrid became arch enemies. Espanyol was founded as a counter part of Spanish residents in Barcelona, while Barca consisted of English and Catalan players.

King Alfonso XIII became the patron of the White & Blues and Espanyol adapted the name Real Club Deportivo Español (Royal Sports Club) and therefore was seen more as a Spanish Club linked to Madrid, while Barca has been supported more by the patriotic Catalans.
Generallisimo Franco also played his part in a further division of the supporters of both clubs. The Gaudillo Franco forbid the Catalans to speak their own language and carry their red and yellow banners and flags. FC Barcelona was considered as subverseive and seperatist, while Espanyol was seen as the only football club in Catalunya that was Spanish patriotic. Therefore Barça supporters labelled the Pericos as foreigners because they did not speak Catalan, but Castillano.


FC Barcelona became a synonym for the "Catalanism", while Espanyol supporters are more seen as the ones who are believing that Catalunya is a part of Spain.

Football, combined with history and politics is a very strong mix to support a deep rifted rivalry, but this rivalry has calmed down a lot recently. Real Madrid that have been considered Franco´s club during the dictatorship, has replaced Espanyol as the enemy.


Still, you will find, that Barca players are denied a taxi when the cab driver is a Perico (like Zambrotta experiend this summer) or that Barca players are denied to play for their rivals (e.g. Saviola) but too big is the difference between the two city rivals nowadays.
FC Barcelona has dominated La Liga in the last 20 years, won European silverware and is considered a European giant while Espanyol is usually fighting for survival and is just too small to be considered a danger or thread.


Worth mentioning, it is a funny fact that only very few away supporters (in this case tonight, the Barca fans) will visit the rival´s stadium because they do not want to give their heighbourly opponent even one Cent.


As their is no violence between the supporters usually, tonight´s match can be considered as a healthy neighbourly rivalry between two clubs in the same city. Espanyol fans might read a bit more into it because it is a David against Goliath situation and also they will look for some sort of Super Cup revenge.

But Barca has to take all 3 points from Montjuic to keep the pressure on league leaders FC Sevilla, who seem to have an easier home game at hand tomorrow (against RCD Mallorca).


Former Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde arrived at Espanyol this summer to replace Miguel Angel Lotina and has turned the team around, especially with some good performances in December.
Espanol´s displays are more like a rollercoaster. In the last three matches, they lost first to Real Madrid at home, then won impressively away at Getafe and then lost again against Recreativo de Huelva at home.


Latest news suggests serious concerns over Espanyol Raul Tamudo's fitness (flu). Also Jesús Mari Lacruz is a doubt with a back injury but David García, Eduardo Costa, César Peixoto (all injured) and Pablo Zabaleta (suspended) will definetely miss the encounter. Espanyol´s Uruguyan forward Walter Pandiani is probably fit enough to play.


Barca´s star player Ronaldinho is back in the squad for the first time in 2007. He is looking forward to be unleashed for the derby and is brimming of confidence. Oleguer has also been called up into the squad for the first time in 2007. Portugues midfielder Deco and Gianluca Zambrotta have recovered from injury but FC Barcelona coach Rijkaard does not want to risk both players and opted to leave them out. Both ysoungsters, Olmo and Crosas, have been left out and will play for Barca B.


My Prediction:

Barça will be looking for victory in the local derby against Espanyol. After two consecutive draws in the La Liga, Barca are in need for all the 3 points. A victory in the Barcelona derby will also be good for the team´s spirit.
But tonight´s match will be difficult and it depends on Espanyol´s form in this match, if it will become a close encounter. Espanyol, who was seen by me as one of the favourites to go down to Segunda A this season have had some good but also some bad results so far.

I have the sneaking feeling tonight´s match will not be as easy as the Super Cup Finals (4:0 on aggregate).


Still, a win is on the agenda, but Barca has to fight hard for it!


Espanyol - FC Barcelona 1-2


Visca el Barca!