Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
2025-26 Spanish La Liga
Matchday 18
Espanyol v Barcelona
RCDE Stadium
Cornella de Llobregat, Spain
Saturday, 3 January 2026
Kick-off is at 20h00
Barcelona would do well not to underestimate Espanyol when they lock horns in a Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday, January 3 in the late kick-off.
The Blaugrana have an excellent record against their local rivals, winning their last three meetings as part of an impressive 30-match unbeaten run stretching back to 2009.
Hansi Flick's side ended the first half of the season strongly, beating Villarreal 2-0 on December 21 to win their last eight La Liga games of 2025 and they enter the new year four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit.
Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
But the Parakeets have been slouches this term after winning 10 of their opening 17 fixtures to challenge the more established clubs for UEFA Champions League football.
Espanyol came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao on December 22 which saw them close within two points of the Yellow Submarine in fifth spot, albeit having played one game more.
Manolo Gonzalez's side have now won five games on the spin and are one of the in-form teams in the league as they look to halt a 17-year winless streak against Barca.
Gonzalez has urged his team to keep the momentum going into the new year as he looks to continue making the fans proud of their achievements in 2025.
"We deserved a year like this. 2025 has been very good. We need a season that people can be proud of," he said.
"The players tell me I'm a bit of a grouch, but I know this world well, and until we achieve our objective, I won't be looking any further ahead.
"Hopefully, we can get three more wins in a row, because we won't stop then either. The team will continue giving everything to go as far as possible.
"For me, it's a source of pride because the players leave everything out there on the pitch. The word that defines us is 'team'.
"If we make mistakes and don't continue down this path, we'll take a huge drop-off. We have a long way to go in the second half of the season."
Head-to-Head (Last Five La Liga Meetings)
Matches - 5
Espanyol wins - 0
Barcelona wins - 3
Draws - 2
La Liga Matchday 18 fixtures:
Friday, January 2
20h00: Rayo Vallecano v Getafe
Saturday, January 3
13h00: Celta Vigo v Valencia
15h15: Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao
17h30: Elche v Villarreal
20h00: Espanyol v Barcelona
Sunday, January 4
13h00: Sevilla v Levante
15h15: Real Madrid v Real Betis
17h30: Alaves v Real Oviedo
17h30: Real Mallorca v Girona
20h00: Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid
Bet on La Liga with Betway
Sign up at Betway and enjoy solid action and heart-racing thrills when you bet on soccer leagues such as the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga and many more.
Join our Telegram Channel
Get way more with Betway. Enjoy the thrill of sports betting, casino games, and more. Join our community for tips, bonuses, and exciting offers. #BetwaySquad
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions, follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube. Download the Betway App.