Derby Eve Showdown: Flick Meets Espanyol Boss Before the Barcelona Clash
2 January 2026
Pre-Derby Meeting: Flick and González
In the customary pre-derby ritual, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick met Espanyol boss Manolo González today, and the two walked into the Cornella-El Prat stadium.
Jerseys exchange and kickoff stakes explained
The stadium, Espanyol's fortress, hosted a mid-field moment where each coach presented his team's jersey ahead of the match scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, as part of La Liga's Week 19.
Matches between the two sides are always marked by high tension, fierce emotions, and sometimes player-on-player clashes and crowd trouble, given the significance of this city derby and a rivalry spanning decades.
Barcelona leads La Liga with 46 points, ahead of Real Madrid in second on 42, while Espanyol sit fifth with 33 points.
