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| Barcelona set to close gap on leaders Real Madrid |
Barca have the chance to end the year within striking distance of their rivals with Madrid not in Liga action due to their participation in the Club World Cup in Japan.
However, they will confronted by an Espanyol side that have conceded in just two of their last nine league outings to shoot up the table and to within just four points of the Champions League places.
Barca boss Luis Enrique will at least have the rare luxury this season of counting on a fully-fit squad as Neymar returns from suspension after missing the comfortable 3-0 win at Osasuna last weekend.
“In the past two or three games the team has improved and got back to feeling positive,” said captain Andres Iniesta, whose comeback from a six-week injury layoff has coincided with Barca’s return to form.
“We have to continue that into the two games we have to end the year.”
Barca also received a welcome boost on Thursday as Luis Suarez extended his contract with the club until 2021.
Luis Enrique’s men had the unwelcome distraction of fulfilling a friendly commitment in Qatar in midweek, but Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar were all on target in a 5-3 win over Saudi champions Al-Ahli.
Barca have not lost to Espanyol since 2009 and have outscored them by 19 to one in their last five league meetings at the Nou Camp, but midfielder David Lopez believes his side are ready to make their mark on the derby again.
“It’s been a long time since we last beat them but now is a good time because the team has realised we’re capable of great things,” Lopez said. “We’re on form and feeling confident and we need to take advantage of that.”
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