Barcelona Looks To Continue Laliga Domination In Catalan Derby With Espanyol

La Liga leaders Barcelona have the chance to move nine points clear of Real Madrid this weekend with victory in the Catalan derby against city rivals Espanyol.

Following their impressive 4-0 away victory against Real Madrid last weekend, Hansi Flick’s team is brimming with confidence and has the opportunity to establish a significant lead over their arch-rivals.

Madrid’s game at Valencia has been postponed after deadly flooding in the region, along with nearby Villarreal’s game against Rayo Vallecano.

The derby provides Barcelona an opportunity to show their strength in front of their home supporters after triumphing over the champions at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend.

Barca thrashed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Champions League before that and Flick, who arrived this summer to replace Xavi Hernandezwho arrived this summer to replace Xavi Hernandez at the helm, said the key to his team’s form is the good atmosphere at the club.

“When I started with my team, and all the experts, and (sporting director) Deco and the president (Joan Laporta), we said we have to build an atmosphere where the players can show their best performance,” explained the coach after thrashing Madrid.

“The atmosphere is really good and the mentality in the team is outstanding.”

Barcelona have secured 10 victories in La Liga, suffering only one defeat in their first 11 matches, and they also dealt Madrid their first loss in the Spanish top flight in over a year.

Flick believes his team is “in a (state of) flow,” and that appears evident on the pitch with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski in sensational form up front, flanked by teenage star Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in the form of his career.

Only two teams have conceded more than Espanyol in La Liga and their visit to the Olympic stadium offers Barcelona a chance to keep adding to their table-topping tally of 37 goals scored.

Lewandowski struck twice in the Clasico and has 14 league goals. The forward looks back to his best after struggling to make an impact last season.

Flick employs a high defensive line that can seem risky at times, but it has proven effective, helping them secure victories against both Bayern and the Spanish and European champions, Madrid.

“We keep going with our idea; we have a flow at the moment, and we have to keep going,” said Flick.

“(The strategy) looks dangerous, but it’s not dangerous.”

Espanyol, 17th, usually relish the chance to cause trouble for their city rivals but Barcelona’s ruthless form makes this derby an especially daunting challenge.

Former Espanyol president Joan Collet, who led the club between 2012 and 2016, was especially pessimistic.

“Unfortunately, I see very little chance of winning; I will not think about or watch the match,” he told Radio Despi.

“I will disappear off the map, I will turn off my phone, and when it’s over, I will see what happened.

“It’s not that I have no hope, it’s that they’ve taken all my hope away.”

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid, currently in fourth place, will aim to reverse their recent decline as they face struggling Las Palmas, who sit in 18th place, at home.