Espanyol vs Barcelona: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction

Espanyol host Barcelona in the second Catalan derby of the La Liga season on Sunday evening.

Barcelona have the chance to earn a third consecutive La Liga victory for the first time since April following last weekend's potentially season-defining 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid. Espanyol, conversely, are yet to record a victory in 2022.

Here's everything you need to know about the meeting between these sides in decidedly contrasting form.

How to watch Espanyol vs Barcelona on TV/live stream

When is kick off? Sunday 13 February, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? RCDE Stadium
TV channel/live stream? Premier Sports 1/LaLigaTV (UK), ESPN+ (US), TSN (Canada)
Highlights? La Liga YouTube
Referee? Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez
VAR? Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez

Espanyol team news

Espanyol's top scorer - with quadruple the tally of their next highest goal-getter - Raul de Tomas (or R.D.T. as the back of his shirt confidently reads), served his one-game suspension for a second yellow card against Real Betis in January and is back for this one.

Oscar Gil, on the other hand, is set to sit out the local derby after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign.

Albania midfielder Keidi Bare is also expected to miss out on Sunday's derby after testing positive for COVID-19 in midweek.

Barcelona team news

Dani Alves is poised to serve a suspension of his own after the veteran fullback marked his Camp Nou return with a goal and a red card against Atletico. Fellow defenders Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti are also thought to be missing through injury - although Eric Garcia has returned to training.

Alex Balde's ankle issues have underlined Jordi Alba's importance to the side while Ansu Fati's continued absence is never likely to go unnoticed.

You can read Barcelona's predicted lineup here.

Espanyol vs Barcelona head-to-head record

Barcelona recorded their 101st La Liga victory over Espanyol in Xavi's managerial debut for the club back in November. The Blaugrana have won 125 of the 213 matches across all competitions between the city rivals (D44 L44).

Espanyol haven't beaten their neighbours in La Liga since February 2009, when Mauricio Pochettino's visitors earned a 2-1 win at Camp Nou over Pep Guardiola's serial champions thanks to a brace from Ivan de la Pena.

Espanyol vs Barcelona score prediction

Less than three months on from his debut game at the helm of the club he has long promised to manage, Xavi has encountered some hurdles to his philosophical restoration.

However, results have generally been positive - something that emphatically can't be said for their upcoming hosts, who have lost four of their last five.

Barcelona may not be carrying out the juego de posicion principles to perfection just yet, but their seven league game unbeaten streak is unlikely to come to an end against their out-of-form neighbours.

Prediction: Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona