The first Catalan derby of 2026 is set to ignite as Barcelona travel to the RCDE Stadium to face local rivals Espanyol this Saturday, January 3.
Barcelona arrive at the derby in scintillating form, sitting at the top of the La Liga table with 46 points.
Under Hansi Flick, the Blaugrana have been an offensive juggernaut, scoring a league-high 51 goals so far. They enter this match on the back of a 2-0 victory against Villarreal, looking to extend their lead over Real Madrid.
With Ferran Torres leading the line alongside the record-breaking Lamine Yamal, Barcelona aim to continue their 13-match unbeaten streak against their neighbors.
Espanyol
Espanyol, currently the “surprise package” of the season, sit in an impressive 5th place with 33 points. The “Blanquiazules” are enjoying a dream run, having won five consecutive matches, including a gritty 2-1 away win at Athletic Bilbao.
While history favors the visitors, the atmosphere at the RCDE Stadium will be hostile as Espanyol looks to break a nearly 20-year winless drought against Barca in the league.
With a defense that has conceded only 17 goals all season, Manolo González’s side will rely on the clinical finishing of Pere Milla to cause a massive upset in the title race.
Match Details and Kick-off Time
The Espanyol v. Barcelona game will kick off at 8:00 PM UK time. For fans in other regions, the match timings are as follows:
- Spain: 9:00 PM CET
- Egypt/Saudi Arabia: 11:00 PM AST
- United States (Eastern Time): 3:00 PM EST
- India: 1:30 AM IST (Sunday, Jan 4)
The fixture is hosted at RCDE Stadium, where local authorities have banned “distinctive items” of Barcelona fans to maintain a high-intensity home atmosphere.
TV Channels for Espanyol v. Barcelona
United Kingdom: The game can be watched live on Premier Sports 1 (Sky/Virgin Media) or via the new Disney+ La Liga partnership.
Spain: Fans can tune into DAZN LaLiga or Movistar LaLiga.
United States: The game is available exclusively on ESPN+ (English/Spanish) and ESPN Deportes.
Middle East (MENA): Broadcast live on beIN SPORTS 1 HD and beIN 4K.
Live Streaming and Digital Options
- UK: Disney+ (streaming one La Liga game per week) and Premier Sports Player.
- US: ESPN+ offers full match coverage and multi-cam options.
- MENA: TOD and beIN CONNECT provide live streams for mobile and smart TVs.
- India: Available via FanCode.
Highlights and key moments will be shared on the official La Liga X (Twitter) account and Barça One for post-match analysis.
Why Espanyol v. Barcelona Matters
The rivalry is about more than just points; it’s about the pride of Catalonia. With Espanyol currently fighting for a Champions League spot and Barcelona desperate to secure the La Liga title, this is the most high-stakes derby in years.
Both teams enter with 100% winning records over their last five games—something has to give in what promises to be a fiery encounter.
