Preview: Espanyol - Barça

Uhhhh Tamudo... don't get me started. But nice to see De La Pena out - allthough i like him.

My prediction: Espanyol 2 - 3 Barca

My Prediction: Espanyol 1 Barça 3

I remember the times when De la Peña played for Barcelona. I think it should be illegal for a player to represent both Barcelona and Espanyol or Barcelona and Real Madrid during his career. They just don't fit together. Choose one.

Espanyol 1 - 1 Barcelona

The little buddah is a class act - glad to see him not playing against us

Barca 3 Espanyol 1.

umm I would love to see the same attackers ( messi -etoo - ineasta ) , I think etoo will be substituted in the second half for henry . I am a little bit disappointed with our CD , i don't think Pep have found the perfect pair yet .

My prediction Barca 2 Espanyol 1.

so in light of these rotations guardiola has said : "I don't know how the players are dealing with the rotations, but they don't have a lot to say anyway."

wow this guy knows how its done

Barca 2-1 Espanyol.

1-3 Barca

Its about time we improved on the record over the the last couple years, not winning since 2006 is worryong

In defence Pep needs to find the pairing he prefers and quickly as everyone knows that CBack pairings take ages to gel firmly and we need to build a set 11. In attack hopefully Pep will get it right, in my opinion Iniesta wasn't great last game but should probably continue in the left wing role and if Barca are struggling then restore Iniesta to Central Midfeild and put Henry on put again as I always say, Henry at left wing is pointless to be honest and there is no one else to play left so Pep will have a problem there unless the system changes of a left winger comes in.

Should be a great game tonight and my prediciation is 3-1 to... Barca

As I dont live in Spain, how do you feel about playing them? Do you hate them as much/more than Madrid? Let me know!

This is perhaps Barca's real test of the season. Upcoming encounters with Atletico, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Villa Real and Valencia are key. Other than outright wins at home will NOT be good enough . Last year, Barca had way too many draws and this can be a problem. Remember, three draws are just as bad as two losses !! So, Barca needs to win as many games as possible at home especially against the other big clubs .

Sorry!
I meant "first" test of the season.

Can't wait to watch this game...

I'd say it's gonna be 1 - 1 if Henry plays in the left..However, if Iniesta plays in the left, then I expect it to be 2 to 1 for us...

It is going to be difficult for Barca to win this game IF both Abidal and Henry start. A dead left flank is more of a liability than help. I like Iniesta, Eto'o and Messi upfront.

When people say dumb sh!t like this "I'd say it's gonna be 1 - 1 if Henry plays in the left" it pisses me off. Henry doesnt like to play left flank, Pep makes him play there even though he promised him otherwise and there is 10 other players on the pitch accountable for Barca's perfrmance. We as fans have to stop thinking of the team as individuals. Messi is not better then the team, nor is Abidal (unfortunately lol) seperate from the team, we need to get behind them. This is a derby game, the team needs to work for each other and work their asses off.

I for one hope Henry does not play in left wing. Maybe if he plays for Eto after an hour or plays in a 4-4-2 with Eto or Messi otherwise he is just wasted his confidence gets even lower and the team suffers as a result. Come on Barca get up the table and beat the dogs of Madrid

Looks like Henry's got his chance in the middle. team announced.
Valdés, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Xavi, Busquets, Gudjohnsen, Messi, Henry, Iniesta.

FFS, WHY DO SOME PEOPLE STILL LIKE VALDES!!

Fould or no foul he should have cleared that.

Why are some Barca fans turning into apologists for Abidal, Valdes and Henry ? These guys are not worth a shit !!

the real question is why do some people still like henry?? he has the biggest head ive seen in my life but doesnt use it

i wish we score.........

henry is so frigggiiinnnnnnnnnnn irritating with his body movement, cant he refuse to play so we wont hold much grudge against him

im crying my eyes out, so happy!! best win ever!!!

deserved win

Allright, barca fans who were proud of the refree's antics, please stand up. Comon, that was simply cheap of that ref.... todays entire game, the red card, the extra mins, the penalty, COMON... im a barca fan but this is not how I want my team to win!!!

ricardo, just look at the first goal...that goal changed the game...it doesnt matter if he gave the entire espanyol team red cards...first goal changed the game...period...end of subject.

This is my first correct prediction at FCBnews!

one of the ugliest wins ive seen, but i really, really didn't want espanyol to get points the way that first goal went

WHAT A GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Henry scored!! He did try a lot today even though he can be frustrating at times he did his best.

As for Messi, talk about a pressure penalty!! THAT was a victory which I think will push Barca forward, team spirirt, determination, heart, all in a derby game which resuled in a victory!!

Does anybody know a good internet source for Barca games ? That justintv is irritating. Poor picture quality and endless interruptions .

i have eaten my heart already.......what a derby !!!!!!!!!hope there is no more problem resulting from the match after

to you nic!!!!!!!!!!!

FCB 88 How can you see that first goal as anything but stupidity from valdes, he has to push the ball behind the goal, thats the first rule as a goalie, even if Garcia dint push him what was he goin to do with that ball, he dint even have enough strength to push it. Seriously his idiocracy has costed us soo many games.

And henry was sooo rubbish today, his goal just masks an absolutly horrid performance.

The thing about him is i know hes gonna mess up before he does, its easy we can all play this game, every time he has the ball he meses up, and the ground, the ref the pass the angle everythin is to blame but his own shitiness.

U are right Ricardo thats no way to win, but to clench a win in the jaws of defeat twice in a row, that means we are fightin till the end, and we finally have some luck

im never ever gonna blame valdes...whenever he does something good no1 cares so its unfair to him..and no1 can convince me cuz im stubborn so dont even try. and i hate it how even when barca wins, all u guys do is whine....it was a derby, enjoy it for now than whine later...plz. in ur post, u dont even have one good thing to say about barca today....a win is a win, it doesnt matter if its ugly, still 3 points.

i did say

U are right Ricardo thats no way to win, but to clench a win in the jaws of defeat twice in a row, that means we are fightin till the end, and we finally have some luck

which is the same thing as a win is a win

And about something positive, abidal played suprisingly well today, though he should maybe have dealt with the cross that led to goal.

Baby steps, baby steps...

I guess ur right though, i should be happier than i am, its just that the expectations for my team are always high, but hey ugly as it is, its 3 points in the bag,

wohooooooooooooo

Barca fans are amongst the most weird that i've come across; u people were not happy when the team played good football but had a draw....and now that the team has shown some guts and actually won an important game the guys here are ruing the ugly style.....beats me !

Maybe i didn't phrase that correctly... I think we did play very beautifully, it's just the goals that went through aren't telling of how well Barca played.

That first goal for espanyol was upsetting, I think Valdes was visibly pushed down. there was potential for 2-3 wondergoals for Barca, but the ones that went in were Henry's clean up of a lucky play, and a penalty... a bit anti-climactic IMO, but a win is a win. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy we won such a dramatic derby! Go Barca !!!

Just for stepping up to take the penalty under immense pressure, Messi should be handed the captain's armband !!