48.
22:11
Pere Milla tries a free kick from 25 meters slightly to the right. But his flick with his left instep rushes well over the crossbar to the right.
46.
22:09
Let’s move on! Manolo González will not make any personnel changes for the restart. Hansi Flick swaps once on the other side. Fermin Lopez comes on for Marcus Rashford. As a result, Raphinha, who has so far been pale, should switch to his traditional left wing.
46.
22:07
Kick-off of the 2nd half
46.
22:07
Substitution at FC Barcelona: Fermín López
46.
22:07
Substitution at FC Barcelona: Marcus Rashford
45.
9:56 p.m
Half-time conclusion:
In the Derbi Barceloní, after an uneventful first half, the team goes into the locker room with a 0-0 draw. RCD Espanyol not only stood up to the favored leaders, but also managed to almost completely eliminate the best offensive in the league. The hosts had two really good opportunities through Roberto Fernández and especially Pere Milla. However, Joan García showed a really strong performance against his former club and kept Barca clean. Hansi Flick and his team have to come up with something for the second half in order to get the dreaded FCB attack rolling. Otherwise there is a risk of an unplanned setback at the start of the year.
45.
9:50 p.m
End of 1st half
45.
9:50 p.m
Lamine Yamal moves inwards on the right side and then cleverly puts his heel out to the free Rashford. The Englishman’s flat cross initially finds no taker. However, the rebound ends up with Koundé, who moves to the baseline. However, he no longer catches the ball in time before the baseline. That’s why Dmitrovic has a goal kick.
45.
9:48 p.m
The ball is rolling again and stoppage time is already running. This is probably five minutes mainly due to the last few moments.
45.
9:45 p.m
Addition time: 5 minutes are added.
43.
9:45 p.m
There is the next treatment break straight away. Leandro Cabrera and Eric García collided heads in the RCD captain’s previous chance. Both need to be treated.
41.
9:44 p.m
Leandro Cabrera heads the ball in the middle after the corner. However, the central defender doesn’t get any pressure behind the ball, which ends up right at Joan García. This means the keeper has easy prey.
40.
9:43 p.m
Roberto Fernández now needs treatment after the foul in midfield. That’s why it still takes some time until the due corner is executed.
39.
9:42 p.m
The next big thing for Espanyol! When Roberto Fernández is fouled, the referee cleverly allows the advantage to take advantage. This gives the home team a great chance to counterattack, at the end of which Carlos Romero crosses the ball from the left side to the first post to Pere Milla. The veteran actually heads the ball perfectly into the top left corner from a short distance. Joan García, who was actually already a step too far forward, reacts brilliantly and, with a sensational reflex, somehow steers the ball over the crossbar with her right hand as she runs backwards.
37.
9:39 p.m
Raphinha finds Ferran Torres’ head with his cross from the right half of the field. However, the 25-year-old is already one step too far forward and only gets the ball back to the left of the goal.
36.
9:38 p.m
Lamine Yamal is held on the right offensive side by Pere Milla and is awarded a free kick. Maybe something can be done according to a standard for the guests.
34.
9:36 p.m
El Hilali takes a goal kick on his right defensive side against Marcus Rashford and is celebrated as if he had scored a goal.
31.
9:35 p.m
In the classic 4-4-2, Espanyol closes the center well. Even on the wings they are always very focused and usually manage to double or at least not offer the depth. As a result, the best offensive line in the league is still pale. Manolo González’s team does a really good job here.
28.
9:30 p.m
Lamine Yamal elegantly lets Pere Milla stand on the right side of the penalty area with a trick and simply aims at the far corner from an acute angle. However, the left winger’s shot clearly missed the target. Nevertheless, it is the league leaders’ first real finish.
26.
9:28 p.m
Since the opportunity of Roberto Fernández, the home team has been acting much more courageously and offensively. In doing so, they cause problems for the favorite and make the game open.
23.
9:25 p.m
Espanyol Barcelona has significantly less share of the game, but appears more dangerous in quick counter-attacks than FCB on the other side. The league’s best offense is too static and can’t find any gaps yet.
20.
9:24 p.m
The home team has the first big chance! Edu Expósito takes a high pass in his own half in the center circle with his chest and immediately looks ahead. The 29-year-old is at exactly the right moment for the starting Roberto Fernández. The striker cleverly crosses Gerard Martín’s path and looks for a shot from just inside the penalty area. He aims at the right corner with his right inner instep. However, Roberto Fernández doesn’t get his shot optimally placed. As a result, Joan García is there with both hands and the guests just manage to clear the rebound afterwards.
17.
9:19 p.m
Joan García is whistled loudly every time she touches the ball. The RCD fans have obviously still not forgiven their former goalkeeper for leaving for their city rivals.
15.
9:18 p.m
The game is now getting closer to the expected picture. FC Barcelona is collecting more and more ball possession. Espanyol is mainly tied to the defense and lurks on the counterattack.
12.
9:15 p.m
For the first time in the game, the guests maintained a high level of control in the opponent’s half for a longer period of time. In the end, a flat cross from Koundé, who had moved up to the right, only landed at the alert Dmitrović.
9.
9:12 p.m
Edu Expósito can get ready to execute three times in a row at the right corner flag. The Blaugrana were able to clear into the goal twice and the third corner kick was whistled due to an offensive foul.
8.
9:11 p.m
Edu Expósito circles a free kick from the right half of the field halfway into the box. Rashford misses there, so Fernando Calero gets to the ball behind him. However, he can’t control the ball properly when he’s in front of the goal. That’s why he doesn’t finish himself and prefers to play for Pere Milla. But the veteran’s shot is deflected into a corner.
6.
9:08 p.m
The mood in the stands is heated from the first second. After a narrow throw-in decision by the linesman in favor of Barca, almost the entire opposing team stands up and complains loudly, even though the scene takes place almost at the halfway line.
4.
9:06 p.m
It is also a duel of opposites. FC Barcelona is the team with the most ball possession in the league. RCD Espanyol has the least possession of the ball on the other side. However, such a clear difference cannot be seen in the first scenes.
1.
9:02 p.m
Let’s go! The guests open the Derbi Barceloní and play in the usual blue and red jerseys. Espanyol counters in blue and white and immediately puts pressure on them.
1.
9:00 p.m
Game start
8:49 p.m
The direct comparison clearly speaks in favor of FC Barcelona, who won the last three meetings by two goals. The last Espanyol success was several years ago. In the Copa del Rey, RCD won the first leg of the 2018 quarter-finals 1-0 at home and Lionel Messi even missed a penalty. In the second leg, FCB still secured progress with a 2-0 win and even won the cup at the end of the season.
20:41
As the reigning Spanish double winners and current league leaders, FC Barcelona are of course the clear favorites going into the encounter. Before it’s Real Madrid’s turn tomorrow, Lamine Yamal and Co. want to reinforce their supremacy and at least temporarily expand their lead over Los Blancos to seven points. This would not only put Barca under considerable pressure on their closest rival, but would also continue their own winning streak of currently seven competitive games. FCB scored at least two goals in all of these games and even kept a clean sheet in the last three matches. Now Hansi Flick’s team has to prove whether they have managed to maintain this top form over the short winter break.
8:32 p.m
RCD Espanyol is one of the surprise teams of the current season. In the supposedly damned second year after promotion, the Catalans are hard to beat and are in a very good fifth place with 33 points. The main reason for this is their sensational series at the end of the year. There they won the last five league games in a row. This run has of course given the Blue and Whites a lot of self-confidence and they want to continue their performance today. Then something is possible even against your favorite city rival.
20:26
At FCB, Hansi Flick is making a change from the 2-0 away win at FC Villarreal. Marcus Rashford starts in place of Fermín López, who has to sit on the bench. Dani Olmo, an important Blaugrana player, is also celebrating his squad comeback after recovering from a shoulder injury.
20:21
Manolo González made no changes compared to the 2-1 win against Athletic Bilbao and sent the same starting eleven into the race again. The two summer newcomers Roberto Fernández (4 goals and 1 assist) and Tyrhys Dolan (4 assists) also storm from the start.
8:00 p.m
Have a wonderful good evening and welcome to the 18th matchday of the Primera División. With the city derby, the year 2026 starts in a very special way for RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona. The top game kicks off at 9 p.m. at the RCDE Stadium.