Predicted Teams Espanyol-Barcelona: Four changes for Hansi Flick from El Clasico | OneFootball

As long as there is a victor in Cornella on Thursday night, there will be wild celebrations. Espanyol host Barcelona in a highly charged Catalan derby, with Los Pericos needing just two points to guarantee safety in La Liga, and Barcelona needing just two points to win La Liga.

The Blaugrana celebrated the title at the RCDE Stadium just two seasons back, and had to flee from the pitch after Espanyol fans invaded it from the stands in fury. Espanyol Chairman Mao Ye said ahead of the game that the club would do everything possible to guarantee the safety of all at the stadium, while Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said it would be a mistake to think about celebrations before they had beaten Espanyol.

Flick is expected to make at least two changes to the side that won El Clasico 4-3 last Sunday, with Inigo Martinez suspended, and Ferran Torres out for the rest of the season. Sport say Andreas Christensen and Robert Lewandowski will be those changes, but MD believe there will be more beyond that, signalling that Ronald Araujo could come in for Martinez, Alejandro Balde would start in place of Gerard Martin and Fermin Lopez for Dani Olmo.

Torres is added to a list of injured players including Jules Kounde and Marc Bernal, but Pablo Torre and Marc Casado have returned to fitness. Manolo Gonzalez is only without Brian Olivan, and is tipped to go with three midfielders at home. Alex Kral will not be one of them though, with Edu Exposito, Pol Lozano and Urko Gonzalez continuing in the middle.

Los Pericos will be hoping to right matters after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Leganes on Sunday, and Antoniu Roca will likely come into the side on the right, with Roberto Fernandez and Javi Puado leading the line. Espanyol lie 15th, with a five-point gap to Los Pepineros in 18th spot.