Barcelona at full strength for Sunday's visit of Espanyol

The derby between FC Barcelona and Espanyol this Sunday present another important game for Luis Enrique. Therefore, it's likely he will pick what he feels is his strongest side to take on Quique Sanchez Flores' men. 

Barça, second in the table before this weekend with 31 points, six behind Real Madrid, need to win their final game of 2016. 

With Madrid in Japan for the Club World Cup, their game against Valencia has been parked, so Barça could temporarily move within three points of Zinedine Zidane's side. 

CAMP NOU FACTOR

It doesn't look like an easy game for Barcelona. Espanyol arrive at Camp Nou in their best form of the season and free of press. Ninth in the table, they're nine games unbeaten and they've picked up 12 of a possible 21 points away from home. In contrast, Barcelona have been poor at home, drawing three games and losing one. 

However, history favours Barça. Espanyol have not won at Camp Nou since 2008-09. On that day they picked up a 1-2 win as Barça ended the season with the Treble. Since then there have been six home wins: 1-0, 2-0, 4-0, 4-0, 1-0 and 5-1.

TWO DOUBTS 

Only Jeremy Mathieu is out of action, so in principle Luis Enrique can select his Gala XI: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Leo Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar Junior. 

The MSN are untouchable -- Neymar returns rested after a suspension -- but there are alternatives behind them. Samuel Umtiti could play instead of Mascherano, while Andre Gomes may take Rakitic's place. 

Umtiti and Gomes have played a lot of minutes recently, but Mascherano and Rakitic are players that have performed throughout Luis Enrique's time at the club and have their manager's confidence. Experience or youth? We will see what Lucho chooses.  

THREE ESPANYOL ABSENCES  

Quique Sanchez Flores is without three important players: Leo Baptistao, Hernán Pérez and Víctor Sánchez will all be missing.

Pablo Pitatti, however, has recovered from a knock and could come into contention. The question is whether he's risked from the beginning, with Alvaro Vazquez likely to start if not.