La Liga: Catalonia Derby Set to Kick Off 2026

Espanyol vs Barcelona

It’s the fixture known as El Derbi Barceloní. Yet this is no ordinary derby.

This is a game which has a long history of rivalries and a long history of La Liga highlights. A match-up between giants and their much smaller neighbours, indeed underdogs.

So as the two La Liga neighbours prepare to kick off 2026, the question is: can the hosts spring a surprise against the Spanish champions?

Talking Points

Barcelona to visit Espanyol in their upcoming La Liga fixture — Barcelona defender Eric Garcia celebrates after a La Liga victory against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou

The table suggests not as Barca hold a four point lead over arch rivals Real Madrid at the summit, while Espanyol only finished two points clear of the drop zone last season in 14^th place.

But it’s games like this where the form book goes out of the window.

A derby match and a new year which Espanyol begin in an impressive fifth place in the table.

The needle, if that’s the right word, has also started to show with Barcelona fans banned from wearing their club colours this weekend.

That is because security has been stepped up ahead of Saturday’s contest. Perhaps tensions are running higher than usual as Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who did so much to keep Espanyol in the top flight last term, prepares to return to his former club for the first time.

Espanyol are planning to install safety nets behind both goals to ensure that no objects reach the pitch. The club, which has been sanctioned in the past for similar cases, is keen to ensure there is no repeat and avoid the wrath of the Spanish Football Federation, which could impose severe sanctions if there is another offence.

While Barcelona are big favourites with 15 wins from their 18 league games to date, Espanyol have won their last five on the bounce, including last time out at San Mames against Athletic Bilbao.

On the cusp of the halfway point of the campaign, Manolo Gonzalez’s men are firmly in the European race, even if their manager disputes it – only two points behind fourth place Villarreal.

Barca make the short trip across Catalonia possibly without a couple of key men. Spanish international Dani Olmo has been out since the start of December after dislocating his shoulder, while Pedri remains a doubt with a calf niggle.

For the home side, Charles Pickel is unavailable as he is on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Congo, while midfield injuries rule out Ramon Terrats, Pere Milla and Javi Puado.

This should be a victory for free-scoring Barcelona – 51 goals in 18 league games thus far – whose recent form has made a title statement, but Espanyol won’t make life easy for their illustrious neighbours.

One thing’s for sure, much of Catalonia will come to a standstill for 90 lus minutes on Saturday evening.

History

Espanyol moved to the RCDE Stadium in 2009 but it was not until their 10th meeting with their neighbours at their new arena that they were able to win a derby fixture (three draws, six defeats), winning 1–0 in a Copa quarter-final first leg tie.

However, the Catalan giants overturned it 2-0 the following week to go through in the tie.

The Barcelona derby dates back to the 1928-29 season and the fierce rivals have now locked horns on 218 occasions throughout history, with Barcelona certainly the dominant force, winning 128 of their 218 meetings. In that time, Espanyol have enjoyed 44 victories, while there have also been 46 draws.

Barca enjoyed a league double in their way to clinching the La Liga title last term.

They won 3-1 at their temporary home in November last year, courtesy of a double from Olmo and a Raphinha effort.

They then sealed the title with a 2-0 victory in May on Espanyol turf when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez were the goal-getters.