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Upcoming Opponents: RCD Espanyol

Team Name: Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona

Recent form: L-W-W-D-W

One to watch: Sergio García

Competition: La Liga

Fixture date: 8th January 2012

Stadium: Estadi Cornellà-El Prat

Barcelona kick off their 2012 La Liga campaign with an away tie at Catalan neighbours Espanyol. Barça go into the game after their impressive 4-0 victory against Osasuna at the Camp Nou. A tie which saw Guardiola refrain from fielding a full strength side.

Espanyol will not have as much confidence after losing their fifth round Copa del Rey away leg at Cordoba. Only losing 2-1 though does give them hope of turning it around in the second leg, a luxury Osasuna do not have.

In the league Espanyol have played 16 games, winning seven in the process which has earned them an 8th placed spot in the La Liga table.  But only eight points adrift of the drop zone, Espanyol won't be looking to add to their seven defeats so far this campaign.

Barcelona will be hoping to take home three points and to stay withing touching distance of the leaders, Real Madrid.  But with a record of three wins, three draws and one defeat on the road this season, Guardiola's men can not afford to become complacent.

Espanyol will be leading with striker Sergio García, hoping he can add to his
five goals in fourteen games. A challenge that sees him put against World Cup winner's Puyol and Piqué. A defensive duo good enough to throw any striker off his game.

The Barcelona outfit should be a full strength side minus injured David Villa and a doubtful Andrés Iniesta.  My prediction is Guardiola will start with an attacking three of Cuenca, Fàbregas and Messi. This will give the team plenty of options when it comes to attacking the Espanyol defence. Having already conceded twenty goals this season to Barça's socring record of fifty , you would be forgiven for thinking Barcelona are guaranteed to score.

The result though is not a forgone conclusion. Barcelona's away form has been shaky this season and that may be dwelling on some of the less experienced players' minds. Something manager,  Mauricio Pochettino, is hoping to capitalise on.

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