MX23RW : Tuesday, April 2 14:24:39| >> :600:333644:333644:
Mar 30, 2019 at 3.15pm UK at ​Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Attendance: 92,795
Barcelona
2-0
Espanyol
Messi (71', 89')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez fit to start for Barcelona

Messi, Suarez fit to start for Barcelona
© Reuters
Catalan giants are hopeful that rest will help Messi to recover.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde said he will have forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez available for the derby against Espanyol on Saturday.

Messi, who scored twice in the reverse fixture which Barcelona won 4-0 in December, was ruled out of Argentina's second international match against Morocco with a groin injury, while Suarez has recovered from a sprained ankle.

When asked if the Argentinian striker would be 100 per cent, Valverde told the Spanish media: "We think so. He's been carrying a discomfort for a while, but we're trying to get him back.

"He had a few days of rest. We will be careful with him because he is vital for the rest of the season."

Barcelona currently sit at the top of LaLiga with a 10-point lead over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid and are 32 points ahead of Saturday's opponents, however Valverde, a former Espanyol player and coach, insisted both sides would have an added incentive for the match.

"We have in mind that it's a derby, which is very motivating for us and them," he said.

"After this break is the decisive part of the season and we have three games this week.

"We know what we're up against. Each match has a lot of importance and there's less time to recover."

Sergio Garcia is relishing Saturday's derby
Sergio Garcia is relishing Saturday's derby (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Espanyol forward Sergio Garcia insists his side are going into the Barcelona derby to win.

"A derby is always special," he told rcdespanyol.com.

"They are our city rivals and we are looking forward to the day of the match and to achieve a good result.

"In this type of game you never know. (The Camp Nou) is a very difficult ground but we are going with clear ideas and with the purpose of getting three points."


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Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against Lyon in the Champions League on March 13, 2019
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool32247172195379
2Manchester CityMan City31252481216077
3Arsenal31196665392663
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs312011058342461
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd31187660411961
6Chelsea31186752341860
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves31128113838044
8Leicester CityLeicester32135144243-144
9Everton32127134542343
10Watford31127124346-343
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham32126144148-742
12Bournemouth32115164358-1538
13Crystal Palace31106153841-336
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3298153142-1135
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3096153243-1133
16Southampton3189143550-1533
17Burnley3296173759-2233
18Cardiff CityCardiff3184192859-3128
19Fulham3245232972-4317
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3235241859-4114

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