Espanyol – Barcelona

Espanyol host league leaders Barcelona in what promises to be a stark contrast of form, with the Catalans sitting atop the table on 15 points after five straight wins and a 21‑4 goal tally. The home side sit eighth with seven points from five games, having scored eight and conceded five while recording two victories, a draw and two defeats. Barcelona’s unbeaten run and prolific attack will test Espanyol’s defensive resilience, especially given the latter’s modest goal difference. A win for the visitors would extend their perfect start, whereas a point for Espanyol could narrow the gap to the top‑four places as the season progresses.