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La Liga | Gameweek 15

Dec 31, 2022 at 1pm UK

Spotify Camp Nou

Barcelona
1 - 1
Espanyol

Alonso (7')
Fati (25'), Gavi (30'), Alba (74'), Torres (75'), Pedri (76'), Xavi (90+7'), Raphinha (90+5'), Tenas (90+7')
Alba (78')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Joselu (73' pen.)
Olivan (30'), Cabrera (31'), Calero (55'), Souza (73'), Exposito (74'), Joselu (81'), Puado (90+6')

Barcelona handed triple injury boost for Espanyol clash

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 30 December 2022

Barcelona boss Xavi names a full squad for Saturday's Catalan derby with Espanyol, including Robert Lewandowski, Sergi Roberto, Franck Kessie and Ronald Araujo.

Barcelona boss Xavi has been able to name a full squad for Saturday's Catalan derby with Espanyol.

The La Liga leaders were expected to be without the services of leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, who was handed a three-game suspension following his red card against Osasuna last time out.

However, Barcelona have been successful in placing a temporary hold on the ban, which will allow the Poland international to take to the field in the Barcelona derby on Saturday.

The Catalan side have also been able to recover Ronald Araujo, Franck Kessie and Sergi Roberto, who were all absent before the break for the World Cup.

Memphis Depay is also back in the squad, with the attacker featuring for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup.

Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto on October 23, 2022 © Reuters

Araujo travelled with the Uruguay squad for the World Cup despite not featuring for Barcelona since the middle of September, having undergone a thigh operation at the end of September.

The 23-year-old has now been cleared to make just his eighth appearance of the campaign, with the defender named in the squad for the clash with Espanyol.

Kessie, meanwhile, picked up a muscular problem during the Champions League clash with Viktoria Plzen art the start of November, but he is fit enough to return to the squad.

Barcelona have also been boosted by the return of Roberto, who had been on the sidelines since suffering a shoulder injury against Athletic Bilbao towards the end of October.

Franck Kessie celebrates scoring for Barcelona on September 7, 2022 © Reuters

"When he was there with the Uruguayan national team, we talked and had communication with the coach," said Xavi during his pre-match press conference when asked about Araujo.

"In the end, the player's feelings decide, he has told us that he is very well, we have to slow him down a bit and we will be cautious. In principle, he won't start, but he could have minutes."

There had also been some doubt over Eric Garcia's fitness, with the defender picking up a small issue in training, but Xavi has said that the Spain international should be fit to feature.

"He has felt some discomfort. We'll see if he can play tomorrow, but I don't think his injury is serious. We are still counting on him for tomorrow's game," added the head coach.

Meanwhile, Xavi said that "we will see the workload and manage the minutes" when asked about Jules Kounde and Ousmane Dembele, who played in the World Cup final for France.

Barcelona squad vs. Espanyol:

Ter Stegen, Pena, Tenas; Bellerin, Araujo, Christensen, Alonso, Alba, Kounde, E Garcia, Balde; Busquets, Pedri, Kessie, Roberto, F de Jong, Gavi, Torre; Dembele, Lewandowski, Fati, F Torres, Memphis, Raphinha