Barcelona can relegate Espanyol to second division in Catalan derby
The two teams meet at Camp Nou in La Liga on Wednesday night
After 26 consecutive seasons in Spain's top flight, Espanyol are a step away from being relegated to the second division of Spanish football.
If they fail to beat Barcelona at Camp Nou on Wednesday, their relegation from La Liga will be confirmed with three games to go.
Therefore, Barça have the power to relegate their city rivals, who are all but down following a 1-0 loss at home to Leganes on Sunday that left them cut adrift at the bottom of the table.
Espanyol have 24 points and can achieve a maximum of 36. The three teams immediately above the drop zone, Eibar, Celta Vigo and Alaves, all have 35 points.
That means it would take something dramatic for the Pericos to stay up. They would have to win all of their games and one of those three teams would have to lose them all. In addition to that, Mallorca and Leganes would have to drop more points, too.
Just one draw will send them down and that could happen against their neighbours on Wednesday when they make the short trip to Camp Nou.
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