The two coaches of the derby on the grass of Cornellà-El Prat (21 h) met yesterday earlier than usual. Vicente Moreno, Espanyol‘s coach, received Xavi Hernández at his home, ready to live his second great public duel since he has been in charge of Barcelona in just three months.
Espanyol have reached Barça at their worst moment of the season, unable to win any league games in 2022, which has led to criticism of Moreno’s working method, although he is being defended by the template.
Four defeats (Elche, Mallorca, in the Cup, Betis and Athletic) reveal the seriousness of the white-and-blue problems.
Keep the Champions zone
Xavi, on the other hand, will sit in Cornellà-El Prat tomorrow, feeling like a team in the Champions League after having beaten Atlético de Madrid at the Camp Nou last week. More than a victory, it was a statement of intent by Xavi because the team completed the best match since the coach made his debut on November 20, also at the Barça stadium, against Espanyol de Moreno, in which he won with a controversial penalty that later transformed Memphis.
Vicente Moreno and Xavi greeted each other in a cordial atmosphere before preparing the last details for a match that has much more value than the purely symbolic one. A victory for Espanyol would close in the best possible scenario this crisis that has been drowning it since the beginning of the new year. And a Barça victory would certify that his recovery is serious, as well as maintaining his place in the top four.
